Policy Integration for Sustainable Transport Development : Case Studies of Two Swedish Regions

Abstract

It has been argued that for the management of complex issues such as sustainability, which transcend traditional policy sectors and require coordination between several different interests and actors, policymaking depends upon collaboration and integration processes between different sectors and tiers of government. The overall aim of this thesis is therefore to study how and why (or why not) policy integration processes are being developed in regional policymaking and what this means for the achievement of sustainable transport. The thesis consists of two separate qualitative case studies of policymaking in two Swedish regions, one representing a least likely case and the other a most likely case of policy integration. The focus has been on the organizational actors involved in policymaking processes for the regional transport system. For the general discussion the theoretical framework of policy integration, complemented by the analytical concepts of policy logics, organizational identities and boundary object are used. The findings are presented in four articles. An overall conclusion is that policy integration processes do not necessarily result in policy for sustainable transport. If policy integration becomes a goal in itself and the same as joint policy, it risks neglecting sustainable values and becoming the smallest common denominator that a number of actors can agree on. For developing sustainable transport solutions, collaboration for the coordination of policy may be beneficial, but the aim of such processes should not be joint policy.Keywords: policy integration, sustainable transport, region, policy, planning, public administration, institutional logics, organizational identity, boundary object, Sweden 5 SAMMANFATTNING Svensk titel: Integration av policyprocesser mellan sektorer och nivåer för hållbar transportutveckling -två fallstudier av svenska regioner För att beslut och riktlinjer ska kunna utformas så att de leder till lösningar av komplexa frågor, såsom hållbar utveckling, anses de behöva hanteras i samverkan mellan flertalet berörda sektorer och beslutsfattande nivåer. Det är dessa samverkansprocesser, beskrivna som integration under policy processer, som den här avhandlingen analyserar. Syftet är att studera om och hur integrerade regionala policyprocesser förekommer, hur de utvecklas samt deras betydelse för att åstadkomma ett hållbarare transportsystem. Detta undersöks genom kvalitativa fallstudier av två olika svenska regioner som representerar ett minst och ett mest troligt fall av integration av policy. Fallstudierna görs i regionerna Stockholms län och Västra Götalands län. Dessa två fall representerar dessutom två helt olika typer av regionala organisationer, vilket gör att de utgör underlag till, inte bara en diskussion om hållbara transporter, utan också om utvecklingen av den svenska regionala förvaltningsnivån. Fokus för avhandlingen är således organiseringen av regionala beslutsprocesser på transportområdet. För analys används teori kring integration av policy och tre ...

Integration of Sectoral Policies: Potentials and Obstacles in a Complex and Interconnected World

“…It has been argued that 'sectorization' is vital as it enables specialization in regard to dealing with complex issues. But this approach is not always positive for all challenges, particularly for those that require intervention from different sectors at a goal (Santos et al, 2010;Eriksson, 2016). These cross-cutting issues we face need to be managed through the establishment of joint or integrated policy frameworks that features several sectoral goals and reduce the risk of conflict and inconsistencies between different policies and sectors (Meijers &Geerlings, 2004).…”

“…For example, in the UK, Denmark, and Germany there's been a call for policy integration to serve as a major objective for all policymaking (Ling T, 2002;Hull, 2011). Through knowledge, policy learning, and capacity building (Nilsson & Person, 2003), other developing countries are also following suit by integrating environmental concerns into other sectoral policies (Lenschow, 2002;Eriksson, 2016). Schmidt & Fleig (2018) note that Climate Policy Integration (CPI) a subsidiary of EPI has received enormous attention across countries instead of tackling climate issues in isolation.…”