A ‘Justice Doughnut’ approach to reconciling directionality and subsidiarity in regional development: Evidence from green transition in North Sweden

Abstract

As green transitions accelerate, the resulting socio-technical transformations often produce uneven spatial impacts, generating ‘green’ discontent in peripheral and rural regions. Despite the growing discourse on ‘just transition’, regional policy models frequently overlook the multidimensional nature of justice. Through this study we explore how justice can be conceptualized and operationalized within regional green transitions? Theoretically, we propose a framework – the justice doughnut- that positions the trivalent approach (distributional, procedural, and recognitional justice) in regional development. We situate this framework amidst the evolving tensions between top-down ‘directionality’ (driven by sustainability mandates and strategic autonomy) and bottom-up ‘subsidiarity’ (rooted in place-based policy). We hence recontextualise justice as a mutually constitutive space that mediates the governance of regional transformations. Empirically, we illustrate this framework with a case study in Jämtland-Härjedalen, a peripheral region in North Sweden, vital to national transition ambitions. Employing an abductive, multi-method qualitative design - incorporating policy analysis, stakeholder interviews, and deliberative workshops- we examine the multilevel interactions between local, national, and EU actors. The findings reveal pervasive asymmetries in resources and legitimacy, alongside significant intra-regional differentiation. By highlighting how governance logics shape justice outcomes, we offer a generative lens for rethinking just regional development. We, hence, contribute to a deeper understanding of the institutional conditions necessary to reconcile national transition goals with regional equity in peripheral European contexts.