Gunnel Gustafsson

Symbolic and pseudo policies as responses to diffusion of power

Democratic welfare states are increasingly characterized by uncertainty, complexity and often changing divisions of labor between actors and agencies. The main functional answer to such diffusion of power is an increase of symbolic and pseudo policy ingredients. This means that many policies are either not intended to be fully implemented or are characterized by unsatisfactory usage of “available” knowledge regarding preconditions for implementation. Politicians often have to make decisions even when they are unsure of what to do and pressured by lack of economic resources, time or relevant knowledge. This is not something they alone should be blamed for but a rather problematic feature of modern politico-economic systems. Decentralization of symbolic and/or pseudo type is a strategy often used to muddle through the present difficulties. Because of the extension of the public sphere, real decentralization might be the only alternative to complexity and difficulties in governing. The form in which it occurs is, however, crucial for the future of democratic mechanisms.

Modes and effects of local government mergers in Scandinavia

This article analyses the amalgamation of municipalities or local government units which has been carried through in the four Scandinavian countries since the 1950s. The reforms were a product of Social Democracy and were designed to distribute social benefits more equally in each country. The coincidence of the reforms with increased demands for participation are held to have strengthened corporatist trends in the decision‐making process.

Political Women’s Leadership in Sweden: Developments and Challenges

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New Knowledge a Pathway to Responsible Development of the Arctic

NordForsk is a platform for Nordic research and research infrastructure cooperation. One of its key priorities is to support research in response to Grand Challenges as defined in the Lund Declaration, produced during the Swedish presidency of the European Union in 2009. This chapter describes how NordForsk’s research program Responsible development of the Arctic was developed and funded with a real common-pot. An important conclusion is that the fundamental and needs-driven research carried out in response to these grand challenges are, in fact, two sides of the same endeavor. Meeting the needs for knowledge that contributes to overcoming the negative and sometimes irreversible consequences of globalization in the Arctic is crucially important for the around four million inhabitants who live there. In the longer-term, some of these consequences will affect all human beings on earth because climate change is noticeable earlier in the High North than elsewhere. In this respect, the Arctic region is a global laboratory, and this type of new knowledge of importance for all living species on this planet. There are many prerequisites for accomplishing new knowledge of top quality to be acted upon by business, public service providers and other key users. It is necessary for researchers from different countries, with excellent qualifications in their respective disciplines, to work in teams that integrate perspectives and results from disciplinary research. Political backing is also crucial because politicians set policy agendas and are able to fund interdisciplinary research that involves cutting across policy communities e.g. research, innovation, health etc. Another absolute requirement is the existence of practical arrangements that make it possible to produce, spread and use evidence-informed knowledge suitable for overcoming problems and accomplishing responsible development in the Arctic region and beyond. There are lessons learned from the way NordForsk develops principles, flexible processes and organizing in order to create trust and long-term commitment to grand challenges responding research. The preconditions for meeting the urgent needs for new knowledge on the Arctic are, in short, a well-developed research program, excellent people willing to participate and a reliable platform for cooperation.