Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Why has regionalization failed in northern Sweden?

Contributions from historical political economy

Warum ist die Regionalisierung in Nordschweden fehlgeschlagen?

Beiträge der historischen politischen Ökonomie

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Jahrbuch für Regionalwissenschaft Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This article examines and discusses how different theoretical perspectives from historical political economy may contribute to the understanding of why the regionalization attempt in northern Sweden has failed. Since cohesion and adaptation at the intermediate level of government has been a crucial factor behind successful regionalization in Sweden, the article focuses on the county council in Västernorrland. It is argued that the long-standing political differences and disputes between agents from different geographical areas within the county council in Västernorrland was one of the most important causes behind the failed regionalization attempt. In order to elucidate these disputes and thereby to increase the understanding of the failed regionalization process, this article deals with three different theoretical perspectives, which complement and interface with each other. The first perspective focuses on voters and elections and is broadly based on the rational choice political theory. The second perspective deals with the role of the bureaucracy and introduces theories related to governance and control. Finally, the third perspective discusses the role of historical institutions such as spatial policy.

Zusammenfassung

Dieser Artikel untersucht und diskutiert wie verschiedene theoretische Perspektiven der historischen politischen Ökonomie zum Verstehen beitragen könnten, wenn es darum geht, warum die Regionalisierung in Nordschweden fehlgeschlagen ist. Da Zusammenhalt und Anpassung auf dem regionalen Regierungsniveau der ausschlaggebende Faktor für erfolgreiche Regionalisierung in Schweden gewesen sind, konzentriert sich dieser Artikel auf den Provinziallandtag in Västernorrland. Es wird die Auffassung vertreten, daß die seit langem andauernden politischen Differenzen und Meinungsverschiedenheiten zwischen den Vertretern der verschiedenen geographischen Gebiete innerhalb des Provinziallandtages Västernorrland einer der wichtigsten Gründe des missglückten Regionalisierungsversuchs waren. Um diese Meinungsverschiedenheiten zu erklären und dabei das Verständnis für den missglückten Regionalisierungsversuch zu erhöhen, bezieht sich dieser Artikel auf drei verschiedene theoretische Perspektiven, die einander teils ergänzen und teils verbinden. Die erste Perspektive konzentriert sich auf Wähler und Wahlen und stützt sich auf die politische Theorie der rationalen Entscheidung. Die zweite Perspektive bezieht sich auf die Rolle der Bürokratie und introduziert Theorien in Bezug auf Regierungsgewalt und Kontrolle. Schließlich diskutiert die dritte Perspektive die Rolle der historischen Steuerungsmechanismen wie z.B. raumbezogene Politik.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Alchian AA, Demsetz H (1972) Production, information costs, and economic organization. Am Econ Rev 62(5):777–792

    Google Scholar 

  • Andersson F (2004) Towards the future on old tracks? Regional interest groups and decision-making processes concerning coastal railways in Norrland during the 20th century (‘Mot framtiden pågamla spår? Regionala intressegrupper och beslutsprocesser kring kustjärnvägarna i Norrland under 1900-talet’). Dissertation, Umeå University

  • Bengtsson T, Johansson M (1993) Economic and social factors behind the slow-down of migration in Northern Sweden. In: Jussila H, Persson LO, Wiberg U (eds) Shifts in systems at the top of Europe. Forskningsgruppen för regional analys, Avd för Regional Planering, Kungl Tekniska Högskolan, Stockholm, pp 33–47

    Google Scholar 

  • Buchanan JM, Tullock G (1965) The calculus of consent. Ann Arbor Paperbacks, Ann Arbor

    Google Scholar 

  • Bäcklund D (1997) How the city got its muscles. The economy after 1945 (’Hur staden fick sina muskler. Näringslivet efter 1945’). In: Tedebrand L-G (ed) The history of Sundsvall, Part II (‘Sundsvalls historia, del II’). Sundsvall, pp 66–100

    Google Scholar 

  • Christaller W (1966) Central places in southern Germany. Englewood Cliffs, Prentice Hall

    Google Scholar 

  • Downs A (1957) An economic theory of democracy. Harper & Row, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Eriksson K (2009a) The regionalization process in northern Sweden (’Regionaliseringsprocessen i norra Sverige’). In Lidström A (ed) Is it possible to regionalize northern Sweden? Decision-making processes and citizenship (’Kan norra Sverige regionaliseras. Beslutsprocesser och medborgarperspektiv’). Umeå University, Department of Political Science, Research Report 2009:2: pp 9–50

  • Eriksson M (2009b) Transport policy and regional transformation. The decision-making processes concerning ice-breaking along the coast of Norrland, Sweden, 1940–1975 (‘Trafikpolitik och regional omvandling. Beslutsprocesserna om isbrytningen längs Norrlandskusten 1940–1975’). Dissertation, Umeå University

  • Eriksson M (2010) (Re)producing a periphery. Popular representations of the Swedish North. Dissertation, Umeå University

  • Hall PA (1997) The role of interests, institutions, and ideas in the comparative political economy of the industrialized states. In: Lichbach MA, Zuckerman AS (eds) Comparative politics: rationality, culture, and structure. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, pp 174–207

    Google Scholar 

  • Immergut E (1992) Health politics. Interests and institutions in Western Europe. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge

    Google Scholar 

  • Kanazawa MT, Noll RG (1994) The origins of state railroad regulation: the Illinois constitution of 1870. In: Goldin C, Libecap GD (eds) The regulated economy. A historical approach to political economy. NBER, Chicago, pp 13–54

    Google Scholar 

  • Krueger AO (1996) The political economy of control: American sugar. In: Alston LJ, Eggertsson T, North D (eds) Empirical studies in institutional change. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge

    Google Scholar 

  • Lidström A (2009) Do Norlanders want larger regions? (’Vill norrlänningarna ha större regioner?’). In: Lidström A (ed) Is it possible to regionalize northern Sweden? Decision-making processes and citizenship (‘Kan norra Sverige regionaliseras? Beslutsprocesser och medborgarperspektiv’). Research report, Umeå University, Department of Political Science 2009:2: pp 51–80

  • Lidström A (2010) The Swedish regions and the European Union. In: Scully R, Wyn Jones R (eds) Europe, regions and European regionalism. Palgrave Macmillan, London, pp 155–171

    Google Scholar 

  • Mahoney J, Thelen K (2010) A theory of gradual institutional change. In: Mahoney J, Thelen K (eds) Explaining institutional change. Ambiguity, agency and power. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, pp 1–37

    Google Scholar 

  • Malmberg B, Korpi M (2000) Starting-points for the regional policy in the 21st Century. Report 8: Population growth and welfare (’Utgångspunkter för 2000-talets regionalpolitik. Rapport 8. Befolkningsutveckling och välfärd’). Fritzes, Stockholm

    Google Scholar 

  • Niskanen WA (1971) Politics and representative bureaucracy. Aldine, Chicago

    Google Scholar 

  • Nord L (1995) The voices of discontent—a study of the Health Care Party and the media (‘Missnöjets röster—en studie av Sjukvårdspartiet och medierna’). Swedish Federation of County Councils and the County Council of Västernorrland, Härnösand

    Google Scholar 

  • North DC (1990) Institutions, institutional change and economic performance. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge

    Google Scholar 

  • Olson M (1965) The logic of collective action. Public goods and the theory of groups. Harvard University Press, Cambridge

    Google Scholar 

  • Olsson J, Åström J (2004) Sweden. In: Dosenrode S, Halkier H (eds) The Nordic regions and the European Union. Ashgate, Aldershot, pp 77–91

    Google Scholar 

  • Petersson O (1994) Swedish government and politics. Fritzes, Stockholm

    Google Scholar 

  • Pierre J (2004) Politicization of the Swedish civil service: a necessary evil—or just evil. In: Peters GB, Pierre J (eds) Politicization of civil service in comparative perspective. The quest for control. Routledge, London

    Google Scholar 

  • Riker WA (1962) The theory of political coalitions. Yale University Press, New Haven

    Google Scholar 

  • Scully R, Wyn Jones R (2010) Introduction: Europe, regions and European regionalism. In: Scully R, Wyn Jones R (eds) Europe, regions and European regionalism. Macmillan, London, pp 1–15

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Sprengel V (2009) Ending date for managers more unusual (’Slutdatum för chef allt ovanligare’). Dagens Samhälle 3 December 2009

  • Statistics Sweden (2010a) The population based on municipality, age and sex (‘Folkmängden efter kommun, ålder och kön’). www.scb.se. Accessed 20 April 2010

  • Statistics Sweden (2010b), The population in each county every fifth year 1805–2005 (‘Folkmängden länsvis vart femte år 1805–2005’). www.scb.se. Accessed 20 April 2010

  • Stigler GJ (1971) The theory of economic regulation. Bell J Econ Manag Sci 2(1):3–21

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Svedberg H, Weibull L (1994) Health care policy and the formation of public opinion. A Study of how the daily press in three county council areas have dealt with reorganization of health care (‘Sjukvårdspolitik och opinionsbildning. En studie av hur dagspressen i tre landstingsområden behandlat omorganisationen inom sjukvården’). Svensk Informations Mediecenter, Stockholm

  • Westin K (2009) Is there an identity in Norrland? (’Finns det en norrländsk identitet?’). In: Lidström, A (ed) Is it possible to regionalize northern Sweden? Decision-making processes and citizenship (‘Kan norra Sverige regionaliseras? Beslutsprocesser och medborgarperspektiv’). Research report 2009:2: Umeå University, Department of Political Science, pp 81–93

  • Westin L, Sörensson R (2006) Report on the economic growth in Norrland. An analysis of the period 1993 to 2002 (‘Rapport om Norrlands tillväxt. En analys av perioden 1993 till 2002’). The County Administrative Board of Gävleborg, Gävle

    Google Scholar 

  • Williamson OE (1975) Markets and hierarchies. Analysis and antitrust Implications. Free Press, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Wilson JQ (1973) Political organizations. Basic Books, New York

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Economic History, Umeå University, 90187, Umeå, Sweden

    Martin Eriksson

Authors
  1. Martin Eriksson
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Martin Eriksson.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Eriksson, M. Why has regionalization failed in northern Sweden?. Jahrb Reg wiss 31, 173–184 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10037-011-0057-7

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10037-011-0057-7

Keywords

JEL Classification

Schlüsselwörter

Search

Navigation