Finnish multi‐level policy‐making and the quality of local development policy processes: The cases of Oulu and Seinänaapurit sub‐regions

Abstract

Theoretically, this paper is based on soft strategy that balances different sides of policy‐making, i.e. its instrumental, social, communicative and processual aspects. The main starting point in this article is that the solutions to many of the contemporary social and environmental problems on the one hand and success in economic competition on the other hand may not be found as directly as earlier believed in a search for correct answers, design of creative intended strategies or appealing visions. Instead of these means the solutions may be found in the quality of the communicative processes of decision‐making, policy‐making, co‐operation, knowledge creation etc.

Empirically, this paper focuses on the analyses of the quality of policy processes in two Finnish sub‐regions outside the capital region, i.e. the sub‐regions of Oulu and Seinänaapurit. First, the Finnish multi‐level regional policy‐making is described by programming procedures; second, the soft strategy based theoretical framework is set; third, criteria for the analysis of the qualify of policy process are created; fourth, such important analytical dimensions as information flow between key actors, surplus value brought by each actor, commitment, touching‐points between strategies, learning, forums, trust and responsibility are briefly analysed in the context of case sub‐regions.