Abstract
In deze bijdrage wordt verslag gedaan van een onderzoek onder wethouders naar de invloed van bedreigingen op het proces en de uitkomst van lokale besluitvorming. Case studies (N=3) en semigestructureerde interviews (N=35) laten zien dat bedreigingen invloed hebben op het proces van lokale besluitvorming. Deze invloed varieert van een verharding van opvattingen tot grote voorzichtigheid. Er zijn geen aanwijzingen dat bedreigingen de uiteindelijke uitkomst van lokale besluitvorming beïnvloeden. De gevolgen in de privésfeer van de wethouder zijn ingrijpend.
This contribution reports on a delimited part of a larger, exploratory study, the main question of which was: How do aldermen perceive threats, what are their behavioral intentions and what is the influence of threats on the process and the outcome of decision-making? This question was answered with the help of Q methodology, semi structured interviews and case studies. This article discusses the results of the case studies and semi structured interviews on the impact of threats on decision-making. In two of the investigated cases (N=3) there are indications that the threats affect the decision-making process. The first case involves risk-avoiding behavior. In the second case there is a stronger conviction and hardening of opinions. There are no indications that threats affect the outcome of the decision-making process. The political administrative system that we have in the Netherlands is able to counteract improper influence. This is due to various elements in the system such as the boldness and the results-focused attitude of civil service (case 1) and the mayor and aldermen (case 2 and 3) and the design of the rules and procedures (case 1, 2 and 3).
This contribution reports on a delimited part of a larger, exploratory study, the main question of which was: How do aldermen perceive threats, what are their behavioral intentions and what is the influence of threats on the process and the outcome of decision-making? This question was answered with the help of Q methodology, semi structured interviews and case studies. This article discusses the results of the case studies and semi structured interviews on the impact of threats on decision-making. In two of the investigated cases (N=3) there are indications that the threats affect the decision-making process. The first case involves risk-avoiding behavior. In the second case there is a stronger conviction and hardening of opinions. There are no indications that threats affect the outcome of the decision-making process. The political administrative system that we have in the Netherlands is able to counteract improper influence. This is due to various elements in the system such as the boldness and the results-focused attitude of civil service (case 1) and the mayor and aldermen (case 2 and 3) and the design of the rules and procedures (case 1, 2 and 3).
Translated title of the contribution | The influence of threats on the process and the outcome of local decision-making |
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Original language | Dutch |
Pages (from-to) | 51-68 |
Number of pages | 18 |
Journal | Tijdschrift voor Veiligheid |
Volume | 2020 |
Issue number | 1 |
Publication status | Published - Mar 2020 |
Keywords
- bedreigingen in de politiek, ongewenste invloed, intensieve procesanalyse