This article contains a critical reflection on eXplainable Artificial Intelligence (XAI): the idea that AI based decision-making using AI should be transparent to people faced with these decisions. We discuss the main objections to XAI. XAI focuses on a variety of explainees, with different expectations and values; XAI is not a neutral activity, but very value-sensitive; AI is dynamic and so XAI quickly becomes obsolete; many problems are ‘wicked’, which further complicates XAI. In addition, the context of XAI matters – a high level of politicization and a high perceived impact of AI-based decisions, will often result in much criticism of AI and will limit the opportunities of XAI. We also discuss a number of alternative or additional strategies – more attention to negotiated algorithms; to competing algorithms; or to value-sensitive algorithms, which may contribute to more trust in AI-based decision-making. |
Zoekresultaat: 144 artikelen
Titel |
Transparantie en Explainable Artificial Intelligence: beperkingen en strategieën |
Tijdschrift | Bestuurskunde, Aflevering 4 2020 |
Trefwoorden | transparency, Explainable artificial intelligence, Algorithms |
Auteurs | Prof. mr. dr. Hans de Bruijn, Prof. dr. ir. Marijn Janssen en Dr. Martijn Warnier |
SamenvattingAuteursinformatie |
Dossier |
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Tijdschrift | Beleid en Maatschappij, Aflevering 4 2020 |
Auteurs | Dr. Emily Miltenburg |
Auteursinformatie |
Artikel |
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Tijdschrift | Beleid en Maatschappij, Aflevering 4 2020 |
Trefwoorden | residential segregation, Framing, welfare regimes, structural factors, individual preferences |
Auteurs | Prof. dr. Sako Musterd |
SamenvattingAuteursinformatie |
In the Netherlands and surrounding countries, there is reason to ask the question whether levels of segregation according to country of origin (mainly non-western) and in terms of socioeconomic position (mainly social arrears) are sufficiently high to legitimate anti-segregation policy. When will segregation become problematic? If segregation is regarded a problem, what, then, would be the best remedy? Spatial intervention? Or broader societal intervention? In this article developments and mechanisms will be discussed that lead to segregation; also political views on segregation and the framing of segregation will be scrutinized. A confrontation of knowledge, insights, visions, and framings offers material for new perspectives on residential segregation and is reason to argue for a more relaxed attitude towards segregation. We should acknowledge that the process of matching households to residential environments results in some – generally unproblematic – segregation. Only if segregation causes problems that pass certain intensity and/or a certain spatial range, non-spatial or spatial interventions are becoming a necessity. Levels of segregation are relatively moderate still. We ought to be more aware of the fact that strong negative framing actually stimulates segregation, social exclusion, division, discrimination, marginalisation, stigmatisation, fear, estrangement, and the development of first- and second-rate citizens. |
Thema-artikel |
Spreidingsbeleid voor huisvesting van statushoudersSpeelt de buurt een rol in de vroege integratie? |
Tijdschrift | Bestuurskunde, Aflevering 3 2020 |
Trefwoorden | social integration, contact, refugees, neighborhood diversity, dispersion policy |
Auteurs | Dr. Meta van der Linden |
SamenvattingAuteursinformatie |
The Netherlands has been struggling with the question of how to facilitate the integration of refugees who crossed into Europe during the 2015/2016 ‘refugee crisis’. Dutch municipalities aim for the dispersion of refugees over various neighborhoods under the assumption that the ethnic composition of the neighborhood is conducive to integration. In the current study, I test this assumption using a new and representative survey (N = 768 predominantly Syrian refugees living in 45 neighborhoods, response rate 85%) linked to neighborhood data situated in the most ethnically diverse city in the Netherlands; Rotterdam. Multilevel analyses revealed that, generally, a larger share of people without a migration background in the neighborhood was related to more frequent contact with neighbors without a migration background. A larger share of people with a Moroccan background was related to more frequent contact with people with a Moroccan background, but predominantly for Syrian refugees. The neighborhood was not related to contact with people from the same background of with people with a Turkish background. Hence, meeting opportunities in the neighborhood only appear to facilitate social integration if they coincide with refugees’ social preferences. |
Article |
Getting Party Activists on Local ListsHow Dutch Local Party Branches Perform Their Recruitment Function |
Tijdschrift | Politics of the Low Countries, Aflevering 2 2020 |
Trefwoorden | municipal politics, political parties, candidate lists, local party branches, recruitment |
Auteurs | Simon Otjes, Marcel Boogers en Gerrit Voerman |
SamenvattingAuteursinformatie |
This article examines what explains the performance of Dutch local party branches in the recruitment of candidates for municipal councils. Fielding a list of candidates is the most basic function of political parties. In the Netherlands, party branches are under pressure from the low number of party members. To analyse how branches fulfil their role in recruitment, we employ our own survey of the secretaries of party branches held in the run-up to the 2018 municipal election. We find that party membership drives the successful fulfilment of the recruitment function but that, more than the absolute number of members, the crucial factors are how these party members cooperate, the number of active members and the development of this number. |
Article |
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Tijdschrift | Politics of the Low Countries, Aflevering 2 2020 |
Trefwoorden | local politics, local party branches, local elections, gender quotas, Belgium |
Auteurs | Robin Devroe, Silvia Erzeel en Petra Meier |
SamenvattingAuteursinformatie |
This article investigates the feminisation of local politics. Starting from the observation that the representation of women in local electoral politics lags behind the regional and federal level, and taking into account the relevance of local party branches in the recruitment and selection of candidates for elections, we examine the extent to which there is an ‘internal’ feminisation of local party branches and how this links to the ‘external’ feminisation of local electoral politics. Based on surveys among local party chairs, the article maps patterns of feminisation over time and across parties, investigates problems local branches encounter in the recruitment of candidates for local elections, and analyses the (attitudes towards the) measures taken to further the integration of women in local electoral politics. We conclude that internal and external feminisation do not always go hand in hand and that local politics continues to be a male-dominated political biotope. |
Article |
Introduction: Parties at the GrassrootsLocal Party Branches in the Low Countries |
Tijdschrift | Politics of the Low Countries, Aflevering 2 2020 |
Auteurs | Bram Wauters, Simon Otjes en Emilie van Haute |
Auteursinformatie |
Article |
Like Mother, Like Daughter?Linkage Between Local Branches and Their National Party Headquarters in Belgium |
Tijdschrift | Politics of the Low Countries, Aflevering 2 2020 |
Trefwoorden | local branches, national party headquarters, linkage, integration, multilevel parties |
Auteurs | Kristof Steyvers |
SamenvattingAuteursinformatie |
This article scrutinises local-national linkage in Belgium to better understand territorial power relations in multilevel parties. Drawing on a survey of local chairs of national parties, it adopts an innovative, informal and bottom-up approach. The descriptive analysis reveals two central axes in the morphology of linkage: scope (downward support and upward influence) and surplus (benefits versus costs). However, (the valuation of) this interdependence appears as a matter of degree. The explanatory analysis therefore probes into the effect of macro- (between environments), meso- (between parties) and micro- (within parties) level factors. It demonstrates that variance is explained by different parameters. For scope, differences between parties trump those within them. For surplus, specific differences between parties as well as within them matter. The answer to our guiding question is therefore variegated: it depends on for what and for whom. |
Artikel |
Het prestatievoordeel van publiek-private samenwerkingEen analyse van transportinfrastructuurprojecten in Nederland |
Tijdschrift | Beleid en Maatschappij, Aflevering 3 2020 |
Trefwoorden | Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs), Cost Performance, Time Performance, Netherlands, Principal-Agent Relationships |
Auteurs | Dr. Stefan Verweij, Dr. Ingmar van Meerkerk en Prof. dr. ir. Wim Leendertse |
SamenvattingAuteursinformatie |
Compared to regular contracts, infrastructure development and management through Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) is expected to lead to better cost and time performance. However, the evidence for this performance advantage of PPPs is lacking. This article analyzes the performance differences of projects with a Design-Build-Finance-Maintain (DBFM) contract (a type of PPP) and a Design-and-Construct (D&C) contract. Project performance data were collected (N = 65) from the Project Database of Rijkswaterstaat and analyzed using non-parametric tests. Rijkswaterstaat is the executive agency of the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management. The results show that DBFM-projects have a significantly higher cost performance than D&C-projects. In particular, DBFM-projects have less additional costs related to technical necessities in the implementation phase. Regarding time performance, DBFM-projects seem to perform better although the difference with D&C-projects is not statistically significant. The article discusses explanations for the performance advantage of PPPs, rooted in principal-agent theory. From this discussion, an agenda is presented for further research into the performance advantage of Public-Private Partnerships. |
Article |
Interest Representation in BelgiumMapping the Size and Diversity of an Interest Group Population in a Multi-layered Neo-corporatist Polity |
Tijdschrift | Politics of the Low Countries, Aflevering Online First 2020 |
Trefwoorden | interest groups, advocacy, access, advisory councils, media attention |
Auteurs | Evelien Willems, Jan Beyers en Frederik Heylen |
SamenvattingAuteursinformatie |
This article assesses the size and diversity of Belgium’s interest group population by triangulating four data sources. Combining various sources allows us to describe which societal interests get mobilised, which interest organisations become politically active and who gains access to the policy process and obtains news media attention. Unique about the project is the systematic data collection, enabling us to compare interest representation at the national, Flemish and Francophone-Walloon government levels. We find that: (1) the national government level remains an important venue for interest groups, despite the continuous transfer of competences to the subnational and European levels, (2) neo-corporatist mobilisation patterns are a persistent feature of interest representation, despite substantial interest group diversity and (3) interest mobilisation substantially varies across government levels and political-administrative arenas. |
Thema-artikel |
Het klimaat en het subjectWaarom Foucault een bestuurskundige klassieker is |
Tijdschrift | Bestuurskunde, Aflevering 1 2020 |
Trefwoorden | climate change, climate policy, power, Foucault, governmentality |
Auteurs | Dr. Shivant Jhagroe |
SamenvattingAuteursinformatie |
This paper discusses how Michel Foucault’s governmentality approach contributes to our understanding of the climate crisis and climate policy. After adopting a governmentality approach to the domain of climate change, the paper highlights how this approach contrasts with dominant conceptions of governance in Public Administration. Finally, the paper argues that Foucault is an innovative and important thinker and should be considered a classic for critical governance researchers. |
Thema-artikel |
Tegendraads betrokkenDe bijdrage van de complexiteitstheorie aan bestuur en bestuurskunde |
Tijdschrift | Bestuurskunde, Aflevering 1 2020 |
Trefwoorden | complexity theory, machine, simplification, complex systems, critical public administration |
Auteurs | Hans Joosse MSc |
SamenvattingAuteursinformatie |
Complexity theory dares to adopt a critical-constructive attitude to the practice and science of public administration. From the worldview of complex systems, it raises questions about the machine thinking that has influenced public administration strongly and persistently. Many contemporary attempts by governments to simplify societal issues to knowable, solvable and controllable problems – for example the approach to transforming Utrecht Central Station and dealing with multi-dimensional problems in families – can be traced back to machine thinking. Complexity theory points to the ineffectiveness and undesirability of simplifications and considers the complexity of government and society a quality that should be increased rather than reduced. Complexity theory not only keeps the administrative mind sharp on simplification reflexes, but also offers the option to make policy by increasing, rather than reducing complexity. |
Dossier |
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Tijdschrift | Beleid en Maatschappij, Aflevering 1 2020 |
Auteurs | Dr. Cody Hochstenbach en Dr. Claartje Brons |
SamenvattingAuteursinformatie |
Despite notable progress, women remain heavily underrepresented in virtually all layers of the Dutch political system. Only one in three Dutch MPs is currently female. The Minister of the Interior has recently made a number of suggestions to increase gender diversity in politics, in light of 100 years of active voting rights for women. Gender in politics is about much more than the number of women though: it is about the role and position of women in politics as well as about the uneven gendered influence of politics. This introduction discusses the importance of focusing on women and gender in politics, and introduces the four contributions to this Dossier. We specifically call for an intersectional perspective and the various dimensions of gender in and of politics. |
Dossier |
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Tijdschrift | Beleid en Maatschappij, Aflevering 1 2020 |
Auteurs | Dr. Maria Kranendonk |
SamenvattingAuteursinformatie |
The man-woman ratio in municipality councils in the Netherlands varies tremendously. Why does local politics attract women in some municipalities but not in other? The author attempts to answer this question by conducting interviews with municipality clerks and female council members of municipalities where the man-women ratio is even and municipalities where men are in the overwhelming majority. Additionally, the author conducts seven in depth interviews with former local and regional politicians about their motives to quit. Based on the interviews the author concludes that the political culture varies locally, making feel women more or less welcome. Sexist comments were mentioned several times, more often coming from respondents who worked in councils where men were in the majority. Finally, the balance between work, local politics and family life was often mentioned as a major hurdle for young parents (both men and women) for becoming or staying politically active. The author suggests to explore ways to change the political culture, to combat sexism and to find ways to reduce the workload in order to create more equal access to the local political arena. |
Thema |
Sturen op het delen van data: tussen lokale oplossingen en een nationaal platform |
Tijdschrift | Bestuurs­wetenschappen, Aflevering 4 2019 |
Auteurs | Prof. dr. Bram Klievink |
SamenvattingAuteursinformatie |
Information platforms can facilitate data sharing and make new applications possible. It is essential to connect a wide range of both public and private parties to a platform if real data-based transformation is to get off the ground. However, organizations are reluctant to share data if they do not know exactly what it can be used for or if they have no direct interest in it. Achieving a good solution requires a lot from the innovation process itself and the way it is managed. This article uses three innovation perspectives for the analysis of a logistics information platform. This analysis shows that different stages in the development of an information platform can be distinguished, each with its own dynamic. For local government the involvement of and connection to local parties is important, while innovation as a whole benefits from the link with an overarching agenda that transcends the local level. |
Thema |
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Tijdschrift | Bestuurs­wetenschappen, Aflevering 4 2019 |
Auteurs | Prof. dr. Albert Meijer, Dr. Mirko Tobias Schäfer en Dr. Martiene Branderhorst |
SamenvattingAuteursinformatie |
This article presents a normative framework for good local governance in the digital society. We build on the five principles of Frank Hendriks (laid down in an article in Urban Affairs Review in 2014): participation, effectiveness, learning ability, procedural justice and accountability. An analysis of these five principles leads to the refinement of these principles for the digital society. The overarching points are that attention is needed for the possibility of human contact, that avoiding discrimination must be central, that higher demands are made with regard to speed of action, that the principles increasingly apply to networks of organizations, and that the principles increasingly apply to the design of systems. This overview thus provides concrete tools for organizations that want to reflect with citizens and stakeholders on the extent to which they are able to achieve good local governance in the digital society. |
Vanuit de VB |
Van Poelje Award 2018 jury report |
Tijdschrift | Bestuurskunde, Aflevering 4 2019 |
Artikel |
Over zelfredzame burgers gesprokenHoe ambtenaren een buigzaam burgerschapsideaal vormgeven |
Tijdschrift | Beleid en Maatschappij, Aflevering 4 2019 |
Trefwoorden | Interactional framing, Self reliance, Silent ideologies, Micro frames, Self referentiality |
Auteurs | Drs. Harrie van Rooij, Dr. Margit van Wessel en Prof. dr. Noelle Aarts |
SamenvattingAuteursinformatie |
The concept of self-reliant citizens reflects an ideology of citizenship that is multiple and flexible. It could be regarded as a ‘plastic’ word, malleable and adjustable according to convictions, needs and purposes. This study shows the importance of considering the way in which ideological views on citizenship are transferred, adjusted and enacted in an organizational context. On the basis of a case study at the Dutch Tax and Customs Administration (DTCA), we contribute to knowledge on the way processes of framing interrelate on micro, meso and macro levels. We found that frames on self-reliance are enacted in a way that tensions and dilemmas are neutralized or reduced. In a dynamic context of conflicting goals and limited resources, DTCA-employees create meanings of self-reliance which legitimate practices and policies. By doing this they reproduce both organizational and social perspectives. Accounts of citizenship play an important role in this process. Self-reliant citizens are presented as active and responsible. The need of help is imagined as a normal and yet an atypical situation. This study promotes attention to the possibility that organizational systems reproduce perspectives in a way that alternative views remain unnoticed, whereas organizational choices are silently accepted as natural facts. |
Research Notes |
Paid Digital Campaigning During the 2018 Local Elections in FlandersWhich Candidates Jumped on the Bandwagon? |
Tijdschrift | Politics of the Low Countries, Aflevering 3 2019 |
Trefwoorden | local elections, candidates, campaign spending, digital campaigning |
Auteurs | Gunther Vanden Eynde, Gert-Jan Put, Bart Maddens e.a. |
SamenvattingAuteursinformatie |
This research note investigates the role of paid digital campaigning in the 2018 local elections in Flanders. We make use of the official declarations which candidates are legally required to submit. In these declarations, candidates indicate whether and how much they invested in online campaigning tools during the four months preceding the elections. We collected data on a sample of 3,588 individual candidates running in the 30 municipalities of the Leuven Arrondissement. A multilevel logistic regression model shows that the odds of spending on digital campaigning increases among incumbent aldermen and local councillors. The latter finding supports the normalization thesis of digital campaigning. The results also show that scale is important – the more potential voters a candidate has, the higher the odds that the candidate invests in digital tools. |
Article |
How to Improve Local TurnoutThe Effect of Municipal Efforts to Improve Turnout in Dutch Local Elections |
Tijdschrift | Politics of the Low Countries, Aflevering 3 2019 |
Trefwoorden | turnout, local elections, get out the vote, campaign, the Netherlands |
Auteurs | Julien van Ostaaijen, Sabine van Zuydam en Martijn Epskamp |
SamenvattingAuteursinformatie |
Even though many municipalities use a variety of means to improve turnout in local elections, citizen participation in local elections is a point of concern in many Western countries, including the Netherlands. Our research question is therefore: How effective are municipal efforts to improve turnout in (Dutch) local elections? To this end, we collected data from three sources: (1) a survey sent to the municipal clerks of 389 Dutch municipalities to learn what they do to improve turnout; (2) data from Statistics Netherlands on municipalities’ socio-demographic characteristics; and (3) data on the turnout in local elections from the Dutch Electoral Council database. Using hierarchical multiple regression analysis, we found that the direct impact of local governments’ efforts to improve turnout is low. Nevertheless, some measures seem to be able to make a difference. The relative number of polling stations was especially found to impact turnout. |