Analyzing discursive policy leadership using regime narratives in Sweden’s emerging drone transport for sustainability transition

Sweden aims for carbon neutrality by 2045, including a fossil-free transport sector. Radical innovations like civilian drones and eVTOLs offer potential for sustainable, electrified, and integrated transport, but integration is challenged by infrastructure, connectivity, regulation, and public concerns. This paper explores discursive policy leadership in governing drone innovation for sustainable transition, focusing on Sweden. Using a multi-level perspective and narrative discourse analysis, we conducted 18 expert interviews with national, regional, local, and private actors. We examine how drones are narrated within sustainable transport and how accounts reveal the presence or absence of niche leadership. Findings highlight four insights: (1) lack of public-sector leadership risks reinforcing division between private actors and regime lock-in; (2) ideological tensions frame drones as disruptive or conflictual; (3) fragmented responsibilities hindering policy coordination; and (4) new discursive models are needed to reflect complexity. We argue for active discursive policy leadership and inclusive governance to unlock drones' transformative potential.