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.