Dorothea Wehrmann

Abstract

This article explores how participatory approaches and transnational cooperation can be advanced to advance multi-level governance in pursuit of the Sustainable Development Goals, focusing on SDG 11 “Sustainable cities and communities”. Based on qualitative research in Finland and Sweden we show that participatory approaches fail due to a lack of administrative capacity, path dependencies, societal conflicts and power asymmetries between the actors involved, which limit the transformative scope and legitimacy of policies. We argue that central governments in particular need to take more responsibility, provide more guidance and invest in capacity building and community empowerment at the local level.

Keywords: participation, multi-level governance, transnational cooperation, sustainable urban development, European Arctic, Nordic Model, Finland, Sweden, cities, urban planning

Dorothea Wehrmann [dorothea.wehrmann@idos-research.de], German Institute of Development and Sustainability (IDOS) Tulpenfeld 6, 53113 Bonn: Germany
Katarzyna Radzik-Maruszak [katarzyna.radzik-maruszak@mail.umcs.p], Faculty of Political Science Maria Curie-Skłodowska University M. Curie-Skłodowskiej Square, 20-031 Lublin: Poland
Jacqueline Götze, German Institute of Development and Sustainability (IDOS) Tulpenfeld 6, 53113 Bonn: Germany
Michał Łuszczuk [michal.luszczuk@mail.umcs.pl], Social and Economic Geography Maria Curie-Skłodowska University M. Curie-Skłodowskiej Square, 20-031 Lublin: Poland
Arne Riedel [arne.riedel@ecologic.eu], Ecologic Institute Pfalzburger Str. 43/44, 10717 Berlin: Germany