Stig Montin - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by Stig Montin

Statsvetenskaplig tidskrift, Dec 7, 2018

Statsvetenskaplig tidskrift, Jan 3, 2017

A Modernized Local Government Act between Politics and Market A general change has taken place, w... more A Modernized Local Government Act between Politics and Market A general change has taken place, which can be described as from political domination of society towards the societies domination over politics. This means, for example that the idea of competition in local government activities has become a dominating discourse. One important driver is the EU membership, but also national political reforms. Within this context a Government Commission (an expert committee led by a law expert) was appointed to suggest a modernization of the Swedish local government act. In the article it is discussed how the work of the commission was framed and how the commission took position within the interplay between the municipality as politically governed democratic institution and the municipality as an actors and arena for the market. The general conclusion is that the frame of reference support market before politics.

Mellan kontinuitet och forandring : utvardering av den nya namndorganisationen i Uppsala kommun

Demokrati och legitimitet i landstingen : slutrapport fran projektet “Politikerrollen i landstingen“

Denna skrift diskuterar aktiviteter i och resultat av ett pilotprojekt inom Mistra Urban Futures,... more Denna skrift diskuterar aktiviteter i och resultat av ett pilotprojekt inom Mistra Urban Futures, kallat Multi-level governance. Pilotprojektets fokus har varit flernivastyrning, eller snarare sektorssamverkan. Att halla historien om samverkansprocessen levande, att den bor fa ett tydligt slut och att samlas kring ett varumarke ar nagra av de faktorer for framgangsrikt samarbete och larande som projektet identifierat. Men hjalp av detta samt ovriga identifierade faktorer hoppas man lattare kunna bemota komplexiteten i fragorna kring hallbar stadsutveckling som ar en stor utmaning for lokal och regional politik samt forvaltning eftersom olika former av samverkan ofta ses som centrala for att mota denna utmaning.

Denna skrift diskuterar aktiviteter i och resultat av ett pilotprojekt inom Mistra Urban Futures,... more Denna skrift diskuterar aktiviteter i och resultat av ett pilotprojekt inom Mistra Urban Futures, kallat Multi-level governance. Pilotprojektets fokus har varit flernivastyrning, eller snarare sektorssamverkan. Att halla historien om samverkansprocessen levande, att den bor fa ett tydligt slut och att samlas kring ett varumarke ar nagra av de faktorer for framgangsrikt samarbete och larande som projektet identifierat. Men hjalp av detta samt ovriga identifierade faktorer hoppas man lattare kunna bemota komplexiteten i fragorna kring hallbar stadsutveckling som ar en stor utmaning for lokal och regional politik samt forvaltning eftersom olika former av samverkan ofta ses som centrala for att mota denna utmaning.

Statsvetenskaplig tidskrift, Jun 11, 2021

Progress in Planning, 2021

The article describes and reflects upon how multi-level governance and planning in Sweden have be... more The article describes and reflects upon how multi-level governance and planning in Sweden have been affected by and reacted upon three pending major challenges confronting humanity, namely climate change, migration and the Covid-19 pandemic. These ‘crises’ are broadly considered ‘existential threats’ in need of ‘securitisation’. Causes and adequate reactions are contested, and there are no given solutions how to securitise the perceived threats, neither one by one, no less together. Government securitisation strategies are challenged by counter-securitisation demands, and plaguing vulnerable groups in society by in-securitising predicaments. Taking Sweden as an example the article applies an analytical approach drawing upon strands of securitisation, governance and planning theory. Targeting policy responses to the three perceived crises the intricate relations between government levels, responsibilities, capacities, and actions are scrutinized, including a focus upon the role of planning. Overriding research questions are: How has the governance and planning system – central, regional and local governments - in Sweden responded to the challenges of climate change, migration and Covid-19? What threats were identified? What solutions were proposed? What consequences could be traced? What prospects wait around the corner? Comparing crucial aspects of the crises’ anatomies the article adds to the understanding of the way multilevel, cross-sectional, hybrid governance and planning respond to concurrent crises, thereby also offering clues for action in other geopolitical contexts. The article mainly draws upon recent and ongoing research on manifestations of three cases in the Swedish context. Applying a pragmatic, methodological approach combining elements of securitisation, governance and planning theories with Carol Lee Bacchi’s ‘What is the problem represented to be’ and a touch of interpretive/narrative theory, the study reveals distinct differences between the anatomies of the three crises and their handling. Urgency, extension, state of knowledge/epistemology, governance and planning make different imprints on crises management. Sweden’s long-term climate change mitigation and adaptation strategies imply slow, micro-steps forward based on a combination of social-liberal, ‘circular’ and a touch of ‘green growth’ economies. Migration policy displays a Janus face, on the one hand largely respecting the UN refugee quota system on the other hand applying a detailed regulatory framework causing severe insecurity especially for minor refugees wanting to stay and make their living in Sweden. The Covid-19 outbreak revealed a lack of foresight and eroded/fragmented responsibility causing huge stress upon personnel in elderly and health care and appalling death rates among elderly patients, although governance and planning slowly adapted through securitising policies, leading to potential de-securitisation of the issue. The three crises have caused a security wake-up among governments at all levels and the public in general, and the article concludes by discussing whether this ‘perfect storm’ of crises will result in a farewell to neoliberalism – towards a neo-regulatory state facing further challenges and crises for governance, planning and the role of planners. The tentative prospect rather indicates a mixture of context-dependent ‘hybrid governance’, thus also underlining the crucial role of planners’ role as ‘chameleons’ in complicated governance processes of politics, policy and planning.

Guest editor, journalMedborgardeltagandets effekte

Statsvetenskaplig tidskrift, Dec 7, 2018

Statsvetenskaplig tidskrift, Jan 3, 2017

A Modernized Local Government Act between Politics and Market A general change has taken place, w... more A Modernized Local Government Act between Politics and Market A general change has taken place, which can be described as from political domination of society towards the societies domination over politics. This means, for example that the idea of competition in local government activities has become a dominating discourse. One important driver is the EU membership, but also national political reforms. Within this context a Government Commission (an expert committee led by a law expert) was appointed to suggest a modernization of the Swedish local government act. In the article it is discussed how the work of the commission was framed and how the commission took position within the interplay between the municipality as politically governed democratic institution and the municipality as an actors and arena for the market. The general conclusion is that the frame of reference support market before politics.

Mellan kontinuitet och forandring : utvardering av den nya namndorganisationen i Uppsala kommun

Demokrati och legitimitet i landstingen : slutrapport fran projektet “Politikerrollen i landstingen“

Denna skrift diskuterar aktiviteter i och resultat av ett pilotprojekt inom Mistra Urban Futures,... more Denna skrift diskuterar aktiviteter i och resultat av ett pilotprojekt inom Mistra Urban Futures, kallat Multi-level governance. Pilotprojektets fokus har varit flernivastyrning, eller snarare sektorssamverkan. Att halla historien om samverkansprocessen levande, att den bor fa ett tydligt slut och att samlas kring ett varumarke ar nagra av de faktorer for framgangsrikt samarbete och larande som projektet identifierat. Men hjalp av detta samt ovriga identifierade faktorer hoppas man lattare kunna bemota komplexiteten i fragorna kring hallbar stadsutveckling som ar en stor utmaning for lokal och regional politik samt forvaltning eftersom olika former av samverkan ofta ses som centrala for att mota denna utmaning.

Denna skrift diskuterar aktiviteter i och resultat av ett pilotprojekt inom Mistra Urban Futures,... more Denna skrift diskuterar aktiviteter i och resultat av ett pilotprojekt inom Mistra Urban Futures, kallat Multi-level governance. Pilotprojektets fokus har varit flernivastyrning, eller snarare sektorssamverkan. Att halla historien om samverkansprocessen levande, att den bor fa ett tydligt slut och att samlas kring ett varumarke ar nagra av de faktorer for framgangsrikt samarbete och larande som projektet identifierat. Men hjalp av detta samt ovriga identifierade faktorer hoppas man lattare kunna bemota komplexiteten i fragorna kring hallbar stadsutveckling som ar en stor utmaning for lokal och regional politik samt forvaltning eftersom olika former av samverkan ofta ses som centrala for att mota denna utmaning.

Statsvetenskaplig tidskrift, Jun 11, 2021

Progress in Planning, 2021

The article describes and reflects upon how multi-level governance and planning in Sweden have be... more The article describes and reflects upon how multi-level governance and planning in Sweden have been affected by and reacted upon three pending major challenges confronting humanity, namely climate change, migration and the Covid-19 pandemic. These ‘crises’ are broadly considered ‘existential threats’ in need of ‘securitisation’. Causes and adequate reactions are contested, and there are no given solutions how to securitise the perceived threats, neither one by one, no less together. Government securitisation strategies are challenged by counter-securitisation demands, and plaguing vulnerable groups in society by in-securitising predicaments. Taking Sweden as an example the article applies an analytical approach drawing upon strands of securitisation, governance and planning theory. Targeting policy responses to the three perceived crises the intricate relations between government levels, responsibilities, capacities, and actions are scrutinized, including a focus upon the role of planning. Overriding research questions are: How has the governance and planning system – central, regional and local governments - in Sweden responded to the challenges of climate change, migration and Covid-19? What threats were identified? What solutions were proposed? What consequences could be traced? What prospects wait around the corner? Comparing crucial aspects of the crises’ anatomies the article adds to the understanding of the way multilevel, cross-sectional, hybrid governance and planning respond to concurrent crises, thereby also offering clues for action in other geopolitical contexts. The article mainly draws upon recent and ongoing research on manifestations of three cases in the Swedish context. Applying a pragmatic, methodological approach combining elements of securitisation, governance and planning theories with Carol Lee Bacchi’s ‘What is the problem represented to be’ and a touch of interpretive/narrative theory, the study reveals distinct differences between the anatomies of the three crises and their handling. Urgency, extension, state of knowledge/epistemology, governance and planning make different imprints on crises management. Sweden’s long-term climate change mitigation and adaptation strategies imply slow, micro-steps forward based on a combination of social-liberal, ‘circular’ and a touch of ‘green growth’ economies. Migration policy displays a Janus face, on the one hand largely respecting the UN refugee quota system on the other hand applying a detailed regulatory framework causing severe insecurity especially for minor refugees wanting to stay and make their living in Sweden. The Covid-19 outbreak revealed a lack of foresight and eroded/fragmented responsibility causing huge stress upon personnel in elderly and health care and appalling death rates among elderly patients, although governance and planning slowly adapted through securitising policies, leading to potential de-securitisation of the issue. The three crises have caused a security wake-up among governments at all levels and the public in general, and the article concludes by discussing whether this ‘perfect storm’ of crises will result in a farewell to neoliberalism – towards a neo-regulatory state facing further challenges and crises for governance, planning and the role of planners. The tentative prospect rather indicates a mixture of context-dependent ‘hybrid governance’, thus also underlining the crucial role of planners’ role as ‘chameleons’ in complicated governance processes of politics, policy and planning.

Guest editor, journalMedborgardeltagandets effekte

The purpose of this report is to examine how coherent the Gothenburg Region’s sustainability poli... more The purpose of this report is to examine how coherent the Gothenburg Region’s sustainability policy is, taking the “Sustainable growth” strategy as a starting-point. We
examine three aspects of cohesion: organisational cohesion, the relationship between the different dimensions of sustainability and the correlation between ideas, policies and
outcomes. Overall, we found that the Gothenburg Region has a coherent policy for sustainable development in terms of organisational collaboration. The political will among
municipal leaders, various forms of networking and GR’s five consultation processes with councillors in the municipalities of the Gothenburg Region have resulted in a number of different background papers and strategy documents which express a coherent idea of how the Gothenburg Region should be developed.

PLAN, 2021

”Medborgardialoger” är ett samlingsbegrepp för olika former av inbjudet medborgardeltagande, där ... more ”Medborgardialoger” är ett samlingsbegrepp för olika former av inbjudet medborgardeltagande, där offentliga organisationer bjuder in allmänheten för att delta i planering eller genomförande av offentlig politik. Syftet är ofta att fördjupa demokratin genom att stärka legitimiteten för politiken och dess förmåga att lösa samhällsproblem. Många kommuner har mångårig erfarenhet av medborgardialoger, vilket av olika skäl har blivit en praktik som genomsyrar samhällsplaneringen i Sverige. Om syftet med medborgardialoger är att öka legitimiteten för den rådande politiken kan den forskning som presenteras i detta specialnummer förhoppningsvis läsas som en kritisk reflektion över denna ambition. Risken är givetvis att fler frågor väcks, och att analyserna väcker frustration då vi inte presenterar några definitiva rekommendationer för hur praktiken bör gå till väga. Vi hoppas ändå att detta specialnummer ska öka insikterna om relationen mellan planering och demokrati.

De fyra inledande texterna i numret är resultatet av ett forskningsprojekt om medborgardialoger som finansierat av Formas, Mistra urban futures: Centrum för hållbar stadsutveckling, och Trafikverket. Övriga texter är resultatet av seminarier med projektets två referensgrupper bestående av dels praktiker, dels forskare. Montin, Tunström och Tahvilzadeh skriver texter utifrån forskningsprojektet, men de andra forskarnas bidrag är självständiga reflektioner grundade i deras egen forskning. Vissa har bidragit med resultat från färska studier medan andra bidrag kommer ur en en lång karriär av forskning kring dessa frågor. Vi är mycket glada att Tinna Harling, tidigare verksam i Tjörns kommun, bidrar med reflektioner, som en av de deltagande praktikerna i referensgruppen för forskningsprojektet Medborgardeltagandets effekter.