Aktørenes

Aktørenes is the possessive form of the Norwegian word aktør, used to refer to something that belongs to or concerns actors. An aktør is a person, group, organization, or institution that participates in, or is affected by, social, political, economic, or cultural processes. In academic and policy contexts, the term emphasizes agency—the capacity of these actors to act strategically, allocate resources, and influence outcomes.

In practice, aktører can be individuals (citizens, employees), public bodies (ministries, agencies, municipalities), private organizations (firms, associations), or transnational actors (NGOs, international organizations). The concept is central to analyses of governance and policymaking, where scholars examine how aktørenes interests, resources, and networks shape decisions, collaborations, or conflicts. The possessive form aktørenes is used when referring to what belongs to or concerns them, e.g., aktørenes interesser (the actors’ interests) or aktørenes ansvar (the actors’ responsibilities).

The term also features in theories such as actor-network theory (ANT), which treats both human and non-human elements as actors that influence outcomes through networks. While the term is neutral, its usage can highlight power asymmetries, coordination problems, or legitimacy issues among diverse aktører.

See also: actor-network theory, stakeholder theory, governance, policy analysis.