Knudsen formed a government following the 1912 election and retained office after the elections of 1915 and 1918, showing that his government's priorities had substantial public support. The Liberal seat totals given here rise from 46 in 1909 to 70 in 1912 and 74 in 1915, before falling to 51 in 1918. Labour's 18 seats then helped keep him in office. Voters saw progress in social policy, economic management, and agrarian reform, all of which affected daily life more visibly than military preparedness. Defence received some attention, but it did not gain the sustained priority needed to prepare the country. The political neglect of defence therefore extended beyond the cabinet to the electoral support that kept its priorities in place.
Chapter · 7:30-10:50
Popular domestic priorities displaced defence investment
Knudsen's repeated electoral success reflected public support for social, economic, and agrarian reform, leaving defence secondary even while the First World War surrounded neutral Norway.