Paper Titles & Abstracts

Regions Värmland and Västra Götaland will serve as initial case studies. The paper will explore the regions international relations. The Swedish constitution is very clear on who can 'conduct international relations' (namely the Swedish government); however regional actors have become ambassadors for their region. In this case study, the region is the responsible regional actor for promoting and enabling regional economic development and this include contacts with international actors. The question then becomes how the regions conduct their international relations and why? By comparing these strategies for regional paradiplomatic activities, the paper aims to further the understanding of regional international relations.