Patterns of place leadership: Institutional change and path development in peripheral regions

Abstract

This chapter argues for the need to focus more explicitly on patterns of place leadership in different types of regions. It aims to shed light on leadership patterns by exploring by whom and how local path development is promoted in two different types of peripheral regions in Finland; Eastern Lapland and Jacobstad. The main objective of the paper is to explore the patterns of place leadership in peripheral regions by answering the following research questions: (a) Are there different patterns of place leadership at a local level in a country? and (b) What are the differences and similarities in place leadership in the case sub-regions? The chapter identifies how the patterns of place leadership differ from each other in two different types of sub-regions even though being embedded in the same national governance system. Additionally, we show how development paths shape not only industries but also the patterns of place leadership.