| Arnold Christopher Ræstad | |
| Office1: | Minister of Foreign Affairs |
| Term Start1: | 22 June 1921 |
| Term End1: | 31 May 1922 |
| Primeminister1: | Otto Blehr |
| Predecessor1: | Christian F. Michelet |
| Successor1: | Johan Ludwig Mowinckel |
| Birth Date: | 15 February 1878 |
| Birth Place: | Kristiania, Norway |
| Death Place: | Oslo, Norway |
| Nationality: | Norwegian |
| Known For: | Lawyer, politician, foreign minister of Norway |
| Alma Mater: | University of Oslo |
| Occupation: | Lawyer |
| Spouse: | Märta Alexandra Maria Pauline Bratt |
| Parents: | Christopher Andreas Ræstad (1847–1904) and Maren Gjertine Monge (b. 1847) |
Arnold Christopher Ræstad (15 February 1878 – 18 September 1945) was a Norwegian lawyer, legal scholar, and politician. He was one of the "most influential" Norwegians in the early 20th century, but also among the "most controversial.[1] "
Ræstad grew up in Kristiania, where he earned his examen artium in 1896. He entered the University of Oslo and earned his cand juris degree with the highest honors in 1900. In 1912, he was awarded a doctorate in law for his dissertation on maritime law, titled Kongens strømme (The King's Streams).[1]
From 1906 to 1910 he worked as a secretary at the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. His dissertation formed the backbone for Norwegian maritime policy until the concept of a continental shelf was established after World War II. More specifically, his academic work also formed the conceptual basis for Norway's claims to Spitsbergen.For most of his life, Ræstad made his living through his personal means, royalties from books, and speeching engagements.[1]
He worked for short periods as an editor of Tidens Tegn, and as a university fellow in law.In 1921, he was appointed foreign minister in Otto Blehr's second cabinet, but was forced to resign after 11 months when he failed to secure a trade agreement with Spain and Portugal, countries that harbored animosity toward Norway during the Prohibition period (1919–1926).[1]
In 1940, Ræstad took the initiative to form a broadcasting organization on behalf of the legal Norwegian government as it fled the country and took exile in London. He was part of the group that initiated Nortraship, acted as the presidentof Norges Bank in exile, and as the Norwegian delegate to the United Nations Conference on International Organization in San Francisco.[1] [2]
Although Ræstad had few official postings, his legacy has important points for Norwegian policy on several fronts: