DemGo

Crises tend to reveal the real faces of power in society. DemGo covers a research period from the 2008 financial crisis to the current Covid 19 crisis and focuses on coordinative and collaborative initiatives in the administrative reform policy of Finland. The focus is on Finland, but the design allows for comparative benchmarking with other countries.
About the project

  • Four-year project funded by the Academy of Finland.

  • Collaboration between researchers affiliated with the Swedish School of Social Sciences (SSKH).

  • Multilevel mixed methods design, including desk research, surveys, statistical analysis, case studies, comparative benchmarking as well as national and international workshops.

  • Employs senior and post doc researchers with experience in working in network-based settings.

  • Benefits from two networks initiated by the SSKH/University of Helsinki (InnoNord & Network on explorative governance).

  • Focuses on feasible policy recommendations involving key actors and stakeholders.

  • Develops testbeds and platforms for testing and implementing solutions in collaboration with invited stakeholders. 

  • Provides tools for learning both within country studies and comparative benchmarking of the main findings.

  • The articles produced will be submitted to peer-reviewed scientific journals in the field of public administration, political science and other relevant social sciences.

The aim of the project is to:

  • contribute to the development on new coordinative and collaborative solutions for government
  • provide a multi-level framework for analysing how changes in governance mechanisms and practices affect the democratic qualities of government.
  • reveal potential contradictions between designated solutions for coordination, collaboration and digitalisation, based on inter-level analyses of how solutions are justified and of how they interact in practice.
How can societal decision-making benefit from collaboration?