Possibilities and challenges when planning in peripheral Sweden : How does othering and peripheralisation discursively impact strategic planning in Jämtland?

Abstract: Disparities between regions in Sweden and the EU have been discussed in different fields throughout the years. Norrland, which is the northernmost region of Sweden, has long been recognised as being disadvantaged in comparison to the rest of the country and could be argued to have been peripheralised for centuries. The inland of Norrland is described to be even more affected by these disparities. One of the counties in the inland of Norrland is Jämtland county. The aim of this thesis was to explore how planners and other relevant actors involved in strategic planning and regional development in Jämtland portray possibilities and challenges with planning and how they described their action space in relation to the urban norm and peripheralisation. The results show that there are differences in the municipalities' self-identity regarding whether they describe themselves to be in a weaker or stronger position within the county, both in relation to strategic planning and development, but also to what extent they define themselves as peripheral and affected by the urban norm. This indicates that there is an ongoing peripheralisation process also within Jämtland county, where some municipalities are trying to assert their position as stronger while the others are feeling blamed for creating their own problems. The municipalities want to create attractiveness which could be argued to be a way of them trying to counteract the consequences of peripheralisation.