Leadership of peripheral places: a comparative study of leadership processes in Estonian and Dutch peripheral places
Date
2019-10-28
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Abstract
Viimastel aastakümnetel on teadlased ja poliitikakujundajad täheldanud kõikjal Euroopas kasvavat regionaalset polariseerumist. See väitekiri tegeleb paigakeskse/kohapõhise juhtimise (place leadership), edaspidi kohapõhise rolliga nn. ääremaistes paikades, mis peavad tegelema selle polariseerumise tagajärgedega. Väitekirjas uuritakse, kas ja kuidas juhtimine ja eestvedamine suudavad elustada perifeersete paikade tuhmivõitu konteksti. Uuringus kasutatakse kvalitatiivseid meetodeid ja põhistatud teooriat, et kriitiliselt uurida paigapõhist juhtimist Eesti ja Madalmaade ääremaadel. Uuringu tulemusena selgus, et juhtimise mõistet käsitatakse väga erinevalt, antud töö püüab rakendada tõlgendavat lähenemist kohapõhisele juhtimisele. Huvitav tulemus on ka toimijate mitmekesisus, kes tegelevad juhtimise ja eestvedamisega uuritud paikades, kusjuures otsustava tähtsusega võivad olla ka kaugel väljaspool antud paika tegutsevad toimijad. Uuringutulemused näitavad, et kohapõhises juhtimises on oluline mitmekesisuse koordineerimine, mis eriti selgelt ilmnes kuvandiloome puhul. Tulemused näitavad samuti, et kõikides uuritud paikades olid ressursid kriitilise tähtsusega kohapõhise juhtimise arengu jaoks. Arvestamata neid struktuurseid tingimusi ei ole võimalik tegelikult mõista juhtimist ja eestvedamist paikades. Kokkuvõttes näitab see uuring, et kui rakendada kriitilist ja avatud lähenemist kohapõhisele juhtimisele, saame minna kaugemale juhtimise funktsionalistlikust käsitlusest ning tuua enam esiplaanile kooskõla puudumist, läbirääkimisi ja kohalikke arusaamu juhtimisest ja eestvedamisest. Sel kombel saab paremini kontekstualiseerida juhtimise positiivset potentsiaali perifeersete paikade jaoks. Väitekirja tulemused esitavad avarama ja kriitilisema arusaama kohapõhisest juhtimisest ning järeldused on olulised mitte ainult teadlastele, vaid ka poliitikakujundajatele. Vaadeldes kohapõhist juhtimist kriitiliselt ja teadvustades selle aluseks olevaid normatiivseid eeldusi, võib paigakeskset/kohapõhist juhtimist mõista avatumalt ja kontekstitundlikumalt.
In recent decades, scholars and policy makers have seen increasing regional polarization throughout Europe. This thesis focuses on the role of place leadership in places dealing with the effects of polarization, in so-called peripheral places. It explores what is still left of the promise of leadership when understood in the less bright contexts of peripheral places. This research uses qualitative methods and grounded theory to develop a critical understanding of place leadership in peripheral places of Estonia and the Netherlands. The results show the diversity in understandings on the concept of leadership and moves to a more interpretive reading of place leadership. Interesting is also the diversity of actors involved in leadership practices, of which some are quite distant but decisive in development of the places. Furthermore, the research shows the importance of place leadership in negotiating multiplicity, which was especially clear in leadership practices focusing on image making. The research also shows that in all cases resources are critical for place leadership to develop. A failure to recognize these structural environments surrounding place leadership fails in a true understanding of leadership in places. Overall, this research has shown that when applying a critical and open approach to place leadership, we can move beyond a functionalistic approach of leadership, in which disharmonies, negotiations and local understandings of leadership can be brought more into the picture. Furthermore, in this sense, the promise of leadership for peripheral places can be more contextualised. The results not only point to a greater and more critical understanding of place leadership, but moreover also has implications that are relevant for academics as well as policy makers. By critically examining the concept of place leadership and being aware of the underlying normative assumptions, place leadership can be understood in a more open and context- sensitive way.
In recent decades, scholars and policy makers have seen increasing regional polarization throughout Europe. This thesis focuses on the role of place leadership in places dealing with the effects of polarization, in so-called peripheral places. It explores what is still left of the promise of leadership when understood in the less bright contexts of peripheral places. This research uses qualitative methods and grounded theory to develop a critical understanding of place leadership in peripheral places of Estonia and the Netherlands. The results show the diversity in understandings on the concept of leadership and moves to a more interpretive reading of place leadership. Interesting is also the diversity of actors involved in leadership practices, of which some are quite distant but decisive in development of the places. Furthermore, the research shows the importance of place leadership in negotiating multiplicity, which was especially clear in leadership practices focusing on image making. The research also shows that in all cases resources are critical for place leadership to develop. A failure to recognize these structural environments surrounding place leadership fails in a true understanding of leadership in places. Overall, this research has shown that when applying a critical and open approach to place leadership, we can move beyond a functionalistic approach of leadership, in which disharmonies, negotiations and local understandings of leadership can be brought more into the picture. Furthermore, in this sense, the promise of leadership for peripheral places can be more contextualised. The results not only point to a greater and more critical understanding of place leadership, but moreover also has implications that are relevant for academics as well as policy makers. By critically examining the concept of place leadership and being aware of the underlying normative assumptions, place leadership can be understood in a more open and context- sensitive way.
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Keywords
leadership, management, regional development, Estonia, Netherlands, regional studies