ABSTRACT
This chapter presents a description of regional development in Finland and highlights the impact of programme-based regional policies and projectified regional development objectives as well as the underlying project logic. It also addresses the consequences that such developments may have in terms of democracy and provides a two-dimensional operationalisation of how to assess such consequences. In the Leader approach, Local Action Groups (LAGs) play a crucial role, as they prepare an integrated local development strategy and are responsible for its implementation. LAGs are based on partnerships between the public, private and third sectors, and must represent the different socio-economic sectors in their respective rural territories. Project management also involves a softer paradigm that emphasises learning, participation and an interest in underlying social processes. Finally, the chapter discusses the conditions under which policy implementation by means of temporary governance instruments affect the core values of democratic governance.
