Collaboration as Part of Security Governance in Resilient Regions: A Specific Solution for Non-specific Problem

This chapter explores collaborative governance approaches to enhance regional resilience in Finland, particularly in the context of the EU’s cohesion policy and smart specialisation strategies. It examines how voluntary cooperation among regional stakeholders can address the challenges of poly-crises and how these cooperative structures integrate with regional governance functions. The chapter analyses collaborative arrangements affecting regional resilience in areas such as local economy, environmental governance, security of supply, and national defence. It suggests gaps in the enablement of regional resilience and highlights the need for improved coordination and collaboration between public, private, and NGO actors. The authors suggest that Finland could enhance capabilities for crisis readiness by implementing a national approach to managing disturbances across local, regional, and national scales. They conclude that effective continuity management and multi-scale planning are essential for enhancing regional and national resilience in the face of evolving threat landscapes. The chapter emphasises the importance of subsidiarity and the inclusion of institutional actors at local and regional levels in building a resilient nation.