What Kind of Regionalism? seeks to explore the value basis of regionalism in two northern
European regions. By investigating two less favoured politically defined regions the author
tries to complement previous accounts of regionalism in western Europe many of which have
revolved either around 'ethnic' regions known for hosting sub-nationalist demands or around
affluent regions in the economic and political centre of Europe. A fundamental assumption in
the study is that regionalism can be studied as an instance of a political ideology. The author
has compared the political debate in Norrbotten (Sweden) and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania
(Germany) from the mid-1990s up to the present bringing out the norms values and demands on
which regionalism in these two regions rests. Drawing on extensive empirical material from the
two regions the author seeks to challenge any notion that modern-day forms of regionalism
differ from previous ones in an absence of ethno-culturalist elements. The author adopts a
critical approach towards treating regional identities cultures and images primarily as
desirable factors for regional economic growth.
