ABSTRACT
This chapter investigates the changing nature of partnership in regional policy in two Nordic countries, Norway and Denmark, in order to establish - through two parallel sets of regional case studies - the extent to which a European model has been transferred, adopted or circumvented. It analyzes the case of the Norwegian Regional Development Plans focusing on inclusiveness, accountability and coherence in the interplay between key partners and the wider political environment. The chapter presents a parallel case study of Denmark to highlight the importance of both national and regional influences on the ways in which regional development partnerships function. The analysis of cases from Norway and Denmark has shown that both national and regional factors would seem to influence both the strategic orientation and policy impact of partnerships for regional development. The chapter focuses on the relationship between public and private actors and, not least, the role of European, national and regional tiers of government in the process.
