Aktørerne

Aktørerne is a Danish term meaning "the actors" and is used in social sciences and policy studies to refer to the individuals, groups, organizations, and other entities that participate in a process, event, or system. The term emphasizes agency and the capacity to influence outcomes.

In governance, organizational studies, media studies, and related fields, aktørerne are mapped and analyzed to understand interests, resources, power, and relationships. In stakeholder analysis, identifying aktørerne helps to anticipate support, opposition, and collaboration possibilities.

In actor-network theory (Aktør-netværksteori), aktører include both human beings and non-human elements such as technologies, artifacts, and institutions, which together form networks of influence. This broadened sense of agency contrasts with traditional actor-centric views.

Practical use: researchers and practitioners map aktørerne, assess influence using networks or influence diagrams, and study how aktørernes interdependencies shape decisions and outcomes. In project management and public policy, the term covers government agencies, companies, interest groups, media, and citizens, as well as tools and platforms that mediate action.

Not to be confused with the theatre sense of actor; in Danish usage, aktør is a general participant or stakeholder, and aktørerne is the set of such participants in a given context. Etymology: from French acteur.