Perceptions of Power in Regional Networks: A Nordic Comparative Analysis

Abstract

The aim of this article is to explore the differentiated attitudes towards power in Nordic regional networks. The analysis draws upon a unique comparative survey targeting regional network participants in Finland, Sweden, Norway and Denmark. Three specific issues of power are studied: (1) the perceived influence of different actors in regional networks, (2) the perceived mandate of network members, and (3) the perceived impact of networks on regional development. When searching for the national political specifics that might determine participants' different attitudes, State administrative traditions and regional institutional set-ups are of particular interest. While regional governance in all countries is going through a period of transformative flux, the results show strong association with historical paths. The western countries' networks are characterised by less State influence, more influence by regional stakeholders, greater discretionary power of network members, and they are perceived to have more of an impact on regional development than their eastern counterparts. The results suggest that networks do not represent dichotomous alternatives to formal institutions of regional policy-making, but that they are linked to them in complex ways.

Key Words:

• Regional development
• network governance
• partnership
• power
• Nordic countries

Notes

In letters from 1997/1998 and others dated 26 January 2000.

In Danish ‘Kommunernes Landsforening’ (KL).

The survey was also conducted in Iceland, but their results were excluded from this analysis, because the results were not comparable with the other countries.

With the Swedish survey we have compared the respondents with those in Nutek's (2004) annual evaluations, which had 75 per cent responses in 2005 and 62 per cent in 2006. This analysis indicates that our respondents might be representative of the whole population, despite the low response rate.

The representation is defined in the Act on Structural Funds (1401/2006).