Strong Regions within the Unitary State: The Nordic Experience of Regionalization

Abstract

The regional level has traditionally had a weak position in the administrative system in all the Nordic countries. New developments in territorial governance throughout Europe characterized by a stronger regional role have found their way to the Nordic countries. The view of actors in peripheral Nordic regions can be labelled ‘redistributive regionalism’ which implies that the actors' claims for a stronger role for the regional level must be understood in the context of the unitary state. The idea of a stronger regional level is embraced but has to be adapted to national characteristics, the unitary state and the traditionally strong role of local government, and to the various conditions of each region.

Keywords:

• Regional governance
• regional policy
• new regionalism
• peripheral regions
• Nordic regionalism

Notes

The Norwegian word fylke is translated as ‘County'. Fylke is the administrative region and fylkeskommune (county council) is the directly elected body in the fylke.

The Swedish word län is translated as ‘County'. Län is the administrative region and landsting (county council) is the directly elected body in the län.

When the expression ‘regional level’ is used in this article, it refers to the region as an administrative and political entity between the national and local level.

Below eight inhabitants per square kilometre which was the definition that was inscribed in the accession treaty to the European Union for Finland, Sweden and Austria.

In the northernmost parts of Norway, Finnmark County and the northern part of Troms County the employment tax rate is 0%.

Interviews were held with: director of the Tromsø Chamber of commerce, Norway, 20 August 2007; member of a municipal assembly, of the Oulu regional council and of Finnish national parliament, 26 May 2008; civil servant, the Oulu regional council, Finland, 5 February 2008; politician, member of Oulu regional council, Finland, 26 May 2008; politician, member of a municipal assembly and of Västerbotten county council, Sweden, 26 January 2009; member of Troms county council, Norway, 28 August 2007.