Going beyond city size: agency and multiscalarity in the transformation of industrial towns in Slovenia and Switzerland

Studies on small and medium-sized towns have begun to focus on the role of agency in shaping industrial transformation outcomes. Local agency plays a key role in determining the direction of transformation of industrial towns, yet it is unclear how they shape transformation paths in the context of smallness and multiscalarity. By comparing six industrial towns in Switzerland and Slovenia, we explore how local actors bridge scales, particularly through the lens of institutional work. This study contributes to a nuanced understanding of smallness as both an opportunity and a limitation for local change agents.