Kroll, HenningHenningKroll2022-03-052022-03-052017https://publica.fraunhofer.de/handle/publica/25038610.1016/B978-0-12-804137-6.00005-XThis chapter analyzes the situation of German regions making sense of the seeming paradox that despite their advanced economies, well-established governance systems, and high administrative capacities few of them have engaged strongly with the European Union's smart specialization agenda. It finds that, first and foremost, smart specialization is a political process that has to be interpreted in categories of not only policy making but also political expedience. Where the economy runs well, governance systems are complex and path-dependent, and the political culture does not favor recommendations from external parties, new strategic agendas seem to entail more effort than they bring in benefits.ensmart specializationgovernancepolicypoliticparadox303600book article