The Danish seaports play an important political role as providers of growth and as co-creators of jobs in their local communities, though these ports are organized as commercial corporations with profit as objective. This thesis suggests that the political role is supported and legitimized by a governance paradox underlying in the legal frames that governs the Danish seaport sector. The governance paradox consists like the organizational paradox of contradictory yet interrelated elements that exist simultaneously and persist over time (Smith & Lewis, 2011, 386). But the governance paradox has political nature and belongs to the political arena. The morphology and nature of the governance paradox influences our theoretical understanding of the existing paradox theory and impacts the strategic and operational options for governance and tactical leadership.
This thesis studies and analyzes the legislative frames in the seaport sector. The specific governance paradox in this sector consists of four underlying paradoxes. These elements create the specific paradoxical tensions that to some extent define the options and constraints for strategic and operational governance, management, and leadership in the sector.
The thesis analyzes strategic documents from the corporate seaports as well. The findings suggest that the governance paradox really exists, and conclude that the paradox is salient and activated in the organizational field in order to support local political and commercial demands and visions.

Key words: Governance Paradox, Public Governance, Public Administration, Hybrid Organizations, Danish Seaport Sector, Corporate Governance, New public Management, New Public Governance, Co-Creation, Value Creation, Strategy-In-Practice, Visionary and Impowering Leadership.