Introduction: Towards an Institutional Analysis of Dutch Consensualism

Abstract

This chapter determines the analytic point of departure. Since the mid 1990s, Dutch administrative institutions and practices have received a lot of attention – often favourable – from journalists, practicioners and political leaders abroad. In discussions of the Dutch 'polder-model' the usual focus is on current co-operation arrangements concerning socio-economic matters, arrangements between Dutch government on the one hand and organisations of employers and employees on the other. The most important institutions of Dutch provincial government are the provincial council, the provincial executive and the royal commissioner. During most of the post-war period, it was not the 'polder model' but the 'viscous state' that attracted the lion's share of attention in public and political debate on the Dutch structure and culture of decision-making. The institutional patterns in the actual Dutch system of administration can be evaluated better if they are related to institutional patterns from other times and other places.

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