Scarcity of Means; About the Social, Cultural and Political Embeddedness of Local Politics Solutions Management. Description and Interpretation of the Attempts of Solving Priority Problems in a Norwegian Municipality.

Main area of research. The intention of the paper is to describe and assess the situation for one municipality concerning the priorities the local government needs to make, to be able to meet already decided solutions and coming challenges. Some of the m.ost important areas for these decisions will be: Building of Culture house and Church (decided and only just started). Deciding rehabilitation or new building of schools, and resource allocation for primary and lower secondary schooling. Decisions concerning further building of nursing homes and elderly care. Renovation of the sewage system.

Method. Reading and interpreting the documents to each local government meeting and listening to the debate. Reading articles referring to the mentioned areas in the local newspaper(s). Possibly making interviews with some representatives in the local government to have their assessment of the situation, e.g. to what extent ordinary representatives themselves are allowed to explore alternative solutions or whether they are bound by the ordinary decision-making procedures (formally and informally). Assessing the magnitude and quality of the local bodys public dialogue (in newspapers or on internet) with ordinary citizens.

Theory. Local government politics is probably one of the most underestimated and consequential politics areas. The dilemmas and possibilities in this area are seldom explained or understood “in full”. To be able to come to grips with it, it will be crucial to approach in an interdisciplinary way. The multifaceted interpretation will probably need perspectives from at least sociology, politics and literature.

Timespan. The aim is to follow the work of the local government etc. from the constitution of the new body in October 2015 and until summer 2016.