Why regionalism in Sweden?

Article abstract:

Why has the regional issue become important in Sweden, a unitary state with strong central and local levels? This question is analysed with help of three explanatory theses: Europeanisation, intra-national driving forces and regional mobilisation from below. The argument is that underlying intra-national forces of decentralisation and regional complexity motivates a stronger regional level, but that Europeanisation often triggers off processes of regionalisation. The regional mobilisation from below stems from urban economic modernisation: Relatively economically independent regions close to the central Europe and with a relatively Europeanised mentality regionalise to a larger extent (Skåne and West Götaland) than regions neither relatively economically independent nor having a Europeanised mentality.