ABSTRACT
With its growing dependence on electricity, modern society faces the risk of cascading failure of interconnected societal functions. To protect societal functions during an event of power shortage, Sweden has implemented a multi-level planning process called Styrel , which involves national-, regional—and local-level actors. As part of the Swedish crisis management system, the regional body operates as a co-ordinator that organises co-operation and interaction between private and public actors. This study examines the role of the regional hub in Styrel and the collaboration and co-operation between planning levels. It focuses on the co-ordinator’s perspective and presents evidence from interviews and a survey among planners at County Administrative Boards, entrusted with the supervision and execution of Styrel within their regional area of responsibility. This paper indicates that the regional co-ordinator lacks the awareness, knowledge and resources to fulfil its core function in the national planning for critical infrastructure protection.
