Centralizing Government Communication? Evidence from Finland and Sweden

Abstract

How governments manage their communication is one crucial indicator of the balance of power within the cabinet and inside the executive branch as a whole. Existing research offers few insights into the process by which governments come to choose one form of communication over another and about the factors driving centralization. This article addresses this gap through a comparison of two countries, Finland and Sweden, examining not only the organizational forms of government communication but also the causal mechanisms at work. Combining theoretical lessons from studies in political communication, political science, and public administration, it develops a centralization argument, focusing on the centripetal factors facilitating coordination and control. Drawing on over 40 interviews with journalists and political or media advisors in the two countries and on government documents, the article offers clear evidence of a trend toward centralization, particularly in Sweden. This trend should be understood as part of a broader process whereby prime ministers and their offices establish stronger control of the entire executive branch. Related Articles: Hankivsky, Olena. 2013. “Gender Mainstreaming: A Five-Country Examination.” Politics & Policy 41 (5): 629-655. https://doi.org/10.1111/polp.12037. König, Pascal D., and Georg Wenzelburger. 2014. “Toward a Theory of Political Strategy in Policy Analysis.” Politics & Policy 42 (3): 400-430. https://doi.org/10.1111/polp.12076. Selling, Niels, and Stefan Svallfors. 2019. “The Lure of Power: Career Paths and Considerations among Policy Professionals in Sweden.” Politics & Policy 47 (5): 984-1012. https://doi.org/10.1111/polp.12325.