Abstract

The purpose of this study is to contribute to the understanding of Säffle’s early development as an example of rural transformation. The rural population declined. The state demanded by legislation improved geriatric care, social care and schools.  The state solved the problems with the small municipalities' effectiveness and economic capacity through legislation about municipality mergers. The population centers demanded more land and this was solved by legislation regarding incorporation. Säffle grew through incorporations in1943 and 1952. The small rural districts formed three new larger rural districts in 1952. Through compulsory legislation in  1969 the present Säffle municipality was formed by a merger of Säffle, Gillberga, Värmlandsnäs och Svanskog. In the paper the local municipality politicians’ acting in the cooperation with the county board's officials and with the central authorities' officials are investigated. Of Peder Nielsen’s three criteria for a democratic unit are they two first, identity and politically participations, are herewith fullfilld. The third criteria capacity means the municipalities must have access to adequate resources and necessary competence. In the paper it is showed that the third criteria is met from the top perspective but more questionable from a below perspective. The same is valid for Brans’ and Kjellberg’s studies. It is shown that the local municipality politicians and the county board's officials acted in a financially rational way and that the local identity a played more secondary role in the merger processes. Wångmars conclusions ought to be complemented on this point.