Abstract

Drawing on an interactive governance framework, this article provides a critical analysis of the governing system (GS) of Sami reindeer husbandry in Sweden, an indigenous natural resource-based livelihood. Situated against a historical contextualization, and focusing on the relationship between governing images, instruments and action, the study explores how reindeer husbandry is currently governed and how governing has changed over time. In contrast to well-established narratives of increased participation and indigenous peoples’ right to self-determination, this study demonstrates that the governing of Sami reindeer husbandry remains mainly hierarchical and is characterized by inconsistencies. The GS’s elements are poorly fitted internally, there are large differences in understanding between key actors and, over time, only marginal change – in governing structures and meta-images – has occurred. Thus, reindeer husbandry actors appear to be locked out of essential governing functions and locked into a system that is proving hard to change.

Published in

Critical Policy Studies
2015, Volume: 10, number: 4, pages: 426 - 447

UKÄ Subject classification

Public Administration Studies


Publication identifier

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/19460171.2015.1098552

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/84425