In Norway, the influence of local political activity on national policies has been significant. One main reason for this may be the fact that it has been efficiently organized, grassroots-oriented and based on a significant degree of municipal autonomy. Popular movements became particularly influential due to Norway's special path of modernization. On the basis of empirical examples from two municipalities, I argue that egalitarianism—identified by many as an important aspect of Norwegian culture—may be seen as an emergent property of political struggle, and that it may be about to give way to a more bureaucratic, hierarchical order.