Aktørmodellen

Aktørmodellen, or the actor model, is a theoretical framework used to analyze social, political, and organizational processes by focusing on the actions and interactions of individual and collective actors. It treats actors as intentional agents who pursue goals within a given context and who influence outcomes through decisions, strategies, and networks.

Core concepts include actors (individuals, organizations, groups), interests and preferences, resources (money, information, legitimacy), constraints (institutions, norms, power asymmetries), and networks of interaction (partnerships, coalitions, competition). The model emphasizes agency, repertoires of action, and how actors shape and are shaped by institutions and structures.

Levels of analysis range from micro (individual action) to meso (organizations, networks) to macro (policy landscapes, social systems). Research methods often involve case studies, process tracing, and qualitative interviews; sometimes quantitative indicators of influence or influence mapping are used to complement narrative accounts.

Applications of aktørmodellen include public administration, policy analysis, governance reform, international relations, and organizational studies, where the aim is to trace how actors mobilize resources, form coalitions, and implement change. The framework is used to illuminate strategic behavior, negotiation processes, and the distribution of power and influence across actors within a system.

Relation to other approaches: aktørmodellen is related to actor-network theory and governance literatures, but it foregrounds intentional action and strategic choice rather than focusing solely on structures. Critics note potential overemphasis on rational agency, difficulties in measuring influence, and the risk of underplaying broader structural or systemic forces.

See also: actor-network theory, governance, policy process, organizational theory.