Trans-governmental Interactions in the Nordic Region

Abstract

Nordic cooperation is analyzed within a trans-governmental perspective of inter-state relations, where governmental subunits interact fairly independently across national boundaries. A brief outline of the structural framework of Nordic interactions is offered. The major participants are identified as national ministers, parliamentarians and officials, and Nordic ministerial and parliamentary officials. The forms, means, and frequency of regional interactions are examined. The importance of informal interactions is stressed. The joint policy-making process in the region is analyzed by relating each actor type to a particular policy-making role. Roles included are: initiators, vetoers of policy, controllers, and brokers of the decision-making process. Finally, the implications of the intensive trans-Nordic relations for national policy coherence and control are discussed.