Sense of Locality and Changing Municipal Boundaries - The Consolidation of the City of Jyväskylä and the Municipality of Säynätsalo as a Cultural Phenomenon

Authors

• Minna Mäkinen, Lic.Phil, Doctoral Student University of Jyväskylä

Keywords:

sense of locality, change, continuity, consolidation of municipalities

Abstract

Recently there has been a virile attempt in Finnish society to form large institutional and administrative unities, especially in the field of local government. The discussion over the consolidation of municipalities has been quite lively since 2005 when the Council of State started a project aimed at restructuring local government and local services in Finland. Along with the project, municipalities have had to examine their own activities and operations and consider especially the potential of municipal consolidations to ensure welfare services in municipalities. These governmental directions at the local administrative level have also brought questions of local identity into the public discussions. What is the role of locality in the processes of municipal mergers? How do ideas concerning locality change and how are they used when municipal boundaries are being transformed?