Should we consider local authorities and their associations as a formal government layer when they interact with the European institutions in order to influence EU legislation, or should this be classified as informal territorial interest group behaviour? This paper discusses the role and the influence of local authorities in the European decision-making process. Based on a literature review, the paper contrasts both positions in terms of theoretical underpinning, practical implementation and academic state of affairs. The paper demonstrates that whilst the formal perspective has gained more leeway in the official European policy discourse and subsequent institutionalisation in recent decades, it is often insufficient to guarantee the effective inclusion of local authorities in EU policy-making. Interest group action, i.e. lobbying, might therefore still be a more practical and powerful way of promoting local political interests in the European policy arena. |
Article |
Formele bestuurslaag of informele belangengroep?Een literatuurstudie over de rol en invloed van lokale besturen in het Europese multilevel governance systeem |
Tijdschrift | Res Publica, Aflevering 3 2018 |
Trefwoorden | local government, Europeanization, multilevel governance, interest group politics, European decision-making, literature review |
Auteurs | Tom Verhelst |
SamenvattingAuteursinformatie |
Article |
Domineren Brussel en Den Haag ook de Dorpsstraat?Nationale en lokale determinanten van het succes van nationale partijen bij de Nederlandse en Vlaamse gemeenteraadsverkiezingen |
Tijdschrift | Res Publica, Aflevering 3 2017 |
Trefwoorden | second-order elections, municipal elections, local politics |
Auteurs | Sofie Hennau, Ramon van der Does en Johan Ackaert |
SamenvattingAuteursinformatie |
This article investigates to what extent national and/or local factors influence the performance of national parties in the most recent Flemish and Dutch municipal elections of, respectively, 2012 and 2014. |
Research Note |
Burgerschap of entertainment?Het effect van Facebook op politieke participatie van jongeren |
Tijdschrift | Res Publica, Aflevering 3 2016 |
Auteurs | Yannis Theocharis en Ellen Quintelier |
Auteursinformatie |
Article |
De invloed van verkiezingen op politiek vertrouwenEen analyse van een verkiezingspanel in België, 2009-2014 |
Tijdschrift | Res Publica, Aflevering 3 2016 |
Trefwoorden | procedural fairness theory, political trust, internal political efficacy, elections, Belgium |
Auteurs | Dieter Stiers en Marc Hooghe |
SamenvattingAuteursinformatie |
Elections are routinely investigated with a focus on the way in which winners or losers of the elections are different in their attitudes towards the political system. There is no previous research on the general impact of participation in the electoral process on support for the political system. In this study, we hypothesize – based on the procedural fairness theory – that participating in elections raises the voter’s political trust, irrespective of the result of the party s/he voted for. Furthermore, we expect this impact to be largest for voters with the lowest level of internal political efficacy. These expectations are investigated using the Belgian election panel (2009-2014) study, observing political trust before and after the elections in two consecutive electoral cycles. The results provide support for all proposed hypotheses, highlighting the importance of general participation in elections for democratic legitimacy. |
Research Note |
Populisme in West-Europa: België, Duitsland en Nederland vergeleken |
Tijdschrift | Res Publica, Aflevering 2 2015 |
Auteurs | Teun Pauwels |
Auteursinformatie |
Article |
Participeren jongeren anders?Een contextspecifiek antwoord op basis van het Belgische Oosterweelreferendum |
Tijdschrift | Res Publica, Aflevering 1 2013 |
Trefwoorden | political participation, young, New Politics, referendum, context |
Auteurs | Peter Thijssen |
SamenvattingAuteursinformatie |
According to the advocates of the New Politics thesis youngsters are generally less interested in general elections, but are rather attracted by citizen-initiated referendums that are inspired by ecological, elite-challenging and pro-social motives. However, other scholars contend that the age-related differences that characterize participation in general elections are more or less universal because what really matters is how much is at stake. Yet, maybe a middle ground can be found between both perspectives if one explicitly takes into account the conditional nature of the New Politics theoretical framework. Based on exit-poll data regarding participation and vote choice in a Belgian citizen-initiated referendum in three different local contexts we test these conditional hypotheses. Our findings reveal that consistent with the New Politics thesis youngsters participate more and prefer pro-ecology, elite-challenging, and pro-social issue-frames, but only in ‘low stakes-contexts’ where no NIMBY-interests are at play. |
Essay |
Peter Mair en de vertegenwoordigende democratie |
Tijdschrift | Res Publica, Aflevering 3 2012 |
Auteurs | Rudy B. Andeweg |
Auteursinformatie |
Article |
Politieke participatie: Wat doet dat met een mens?Een panelstudie van Belgische lokale data |
Tijdschrift | Res Publica, Aflevering 2 2012 |
Trefwoorden | political participation, political knowledge, political trust, emancipation process, local politics |
Auteurs | Peter Thijssen en Didier Dierckx |
SamenvattingAuteursinformatie |
In this paper we study both long term and short term individual effects of political participation at the local level. Participatory theorists argue that political participation could lead to individual emancipation in terms of a rise of political knowledge and, in the long term, political trust. Indeed, in the short term the increased political knowledge associated with participation might enable citizens to better define their self-interest, which may be inconsistent with actual policies pursued by the local authorities and thus might be conductive to distrust. In the empirical part we will test these assertions using two-wave panel data for a random sample of 457 individuals in the district of Deurne (Antwerp – Belgium). Our results suggest that in the short term participation leads to more local political knowledge and distrust in the local administration. However, we do not find a significant increase in political trust in the long term. |
Article |
De impact van multi-level governance op de democratische input in het EU-handelsbeleid onder het Verdrag van Lissabon |
Tijdschrift | Res Publica, Aflevering 1 2012 |
Trefwoorden | multi-level governance, subsidiarity, EU trade policy, legitimacy, participation |
Auteurs | Fabienne Bossuyt |
SamenvattingAuteursinformatie |
This article examines the impact of multi-level governance (MLG) on the democratic input into European Union (EU) trade policy under the Lisbon Treaty. Focusing on two recently concluded EU trade agreements, i.e. the multi-party agreement with Colombia and Peru and the association agreement with Central America, the article traces several dangers and risks that MLG entails for democratic accountability and participation, which are closely tied to the strong output-oriented nature of MLG and its emphasis on technical effi ciency. These dangers of MLG – the article argues – are not accidental, but are fi rmly rooted within an underlying hegemonic social-economic trend, characterised by an intentional (neo-liberal dominated) attempt to de-politise, and even de-democratise, European political policy-making. |
Essay |
Radicale subsidiariteit |
Tijdschrift | Res Publica, Aflevering 1 2012 |
Auteurs | Hugo Durieux |
Auteursinformatie |
Research Note |
De participatie aan interne partijverkiezingen |
Tijdschrift | Res Publica, Aflevering 3 2010 |
Auteurs | Bram Wauters |
Auteursinformatie |
Research Note |
Ongelijkheden in niet-geïnstitutionaliseerde vormen van politieke participatie.Een multilevelanalyse van data uit 25 landen |
Tijdschrift | Res Publica, Aflevering 2 2010 |
Auteurs | Sofie Marien, Marc Hooghe en Ellen Quintelier |
Auteursinformatie |
Article |
Stemrecht, stemplicht, opkomstplicht: inleiding tot het debat |
Tijdschrift | Res Publica, Aflevering 1 2010 |
Trefwoorden | compulsory voting, turnout, electoral participation, electoral systems, types of democracy |
Auteurs | Arend Lijphart |
SamenvattingAuteursinformatie |
Compulsory voting was abolished in the Netherlands in 1970 without a thorough debate about the likely consequences. On several occasions, I have recommended its retention in countries that have it and its introduction in countries that do not have it. Compulsory voting has a positive effect on turnout and is a guarantee for equal electoral participation by different groups in society. However, the debate is far from closed. In particular, the relationship between compulsory voting and type of democracy (majoritarian vs consensus democracy, majoritarian vs proportional electoral systems) requires further research. |
Article |
Opkomstplicht: stimulans of frustratie?Een landenvergelijkende studie naar de gevolgen van opkomstplicht op politieke participatie |
Tijdschrift | Res Publica, Aflevering 1 2010 |
Trefwoorden | compulsory voting, political participation, turnout, elections |
Auteurs | Tom van der Meer en Jan van Deth |
SamenvattingAuteursinformatie |
Compulsory voting does not only increase voting turnout; it is also expected to have positive spill-over effects. Supposedly, citizens who are obliged to cast a vote will be more engaged in politics than citizens who are allowed to avoid politics. This article reviews the main arguments for this expectation. A rival expectation is formulated based on the idea that enforcements, duties and sanctions are likely to decrease the willingness of citizens to participate politically. A cross-national multi-level empirical test – covering turnout and political participation in twenty established democracies – shows that compulsory voting indeed increases voting turnout. Yet neither positive nor negative spill-over effects for other modes of political participation can be detected. Apparently, the consequences of compulsory voting are restricted to turnout. |
Article |
Subnationale overheden in governance voor duurzame ontwikkelingInter-subnationale netwerken als route voor Vlaanderen naar multilaterale besluitvorming? |
Tijdschrift | Res Publica, Aflevering 4 2009 |
Trefwoorden | governance for sustainable development, Multi-Level Governance, networks, subnational entities, multilateral decision-making, Flanders |
Auteurs | Sander Happaerts, Karoline Van den Brande en Hans Bruyninckx |
SamenvattingAuteursinformatie |
Although subnational entities play an important role in governance for sustainable development, they are often not recognized as decision-making actors in multilateral bodies, where an important part of the policy debate takes place. Adopting a Multi-Level Governance perspective, this article presents four alternative routes they can use to be involved in multilateral decision-making. It further zooms in on inter-subnational networks, an application of one particular route, called the direct route. Inter-subnational networks are associations between subnational entities based upon common interests. They have both external and internal objectives. On the one hand, they want to represent their members at multilateral organizations and influence decisionmaking. On the other hand, they are aimed at fostering cooperation between their members and at stimulating policy learning. This article focuses on the participation of Flanders in two networks in the area of sustainable development: nrg4SD and ENCORE. Flanders is an interesting case because of its exceptional degree of autonomy. The analysis concludes that Flanders is mainly (but not exclusively) interested in the internal dimension of the networks. It further reveals a low political involvement, which seems due to the subject of sustainable development itself. |
Article |
‘Handhaven’ of ‘herroepen’? De vraagstelling in twaalf gemeentelijke volksraadplegingen in Vlaanderen onderzocht |
Tijdschrift | Res Publica, Aflevering 1 2009 |
Trefwoorden | local referenda, question wording, survey research |
Auteurs | Mieke Beckers en Jaak Billiet |
SamenvattingAuteursinformatie |
Direct democratic participation through referenda is often contested, because one faces the problem of determining referendum questions which avoid confusion or subjectivity. However, detailed knowledge concerning socalled ‘question wording effects’ is available within the domain of survey research. In this body of literature, several wording effects such as the use of suggestive wordings, the ambiguity of yes/no questions etc., have been well documented. Yet, despite the similarities between referendum and survey questions, knowledge from survey methodology is rarely employed within the literature on referenda. The present study discusses a number of question wording effects studied in survey research and shows their relevance in referendum settings. In addition this article explores these effects in twelve local referenda in Flanders, Belgium. Building on this empirical evidence, we conclude with a number of precise guidelines regarding the quality of referendum questions. |
Article |
Waarom beleidsparticipatie door 'gewone' burgers meestal faaltEen reconstructie van de oorzaken van participatieve verdamping |
Tijdschrift | Res Publica, Aflevering 3 2008 |
Trefwoorden | policy participation, participatory evaporation, local politics |
Auteurs | Bas van Gool |
SamenvattingAuteursinformatie |
Over the past decade many Western local governments have been experimenting with initiatives inviting the participation of ordinary citizens in public policy-making. However recurrently popular the idea of such participation, its practice is usually quite disappointing. Few ordinary citizens take an interest in participating in policy-affairs, and official policy-makers, anyhow, often seem to lack the will or means to contemplate or adopt their policy-suggestions. Hence, policy participation by ordinary citizens has a strong tendency to “evaporate”. In this article I address the question why this might be so. Drawing from the literature and qualitative interviews, I suggest five broad causal mechanisms to account for the phenomenon of participatory evaporation. This phenomenon seems, in fact, so overdetermined that it is hard to think of the conditions under which policy participation by ordinary citizens might work at all. |
Article |
Belgian Politics in 2006 |
Tijdschrift | Res Publica, Aflevering 2-3 2007 |
Auteurs | Sam Depauw en Mark Deweerdt |
Auteursinformatie |
Article |
De gemeenteraadsverkiezingen van 8 oktober 2006Evolutie sinds 1976 |
Tijdschrift | Res Publica, Aflevering 2-3 2007 |
Auteurs | Johan Ackaert, Herwig Reynaert, Koenraad De Ceuninck e.a. |
SamenvattingAuteursinformatie |
The 2006 local elections in Belgium were the first one organised after the transfer of the local authorities competences from the federal to the regional level. This means by consequence that the different regions have as well the competence in designing the institutional framework of local government as the competence of changing electoral rules. The same elections were also the first ones after drastic reforms in the national political landscape (eg., the democratic Flemish nationalist party split in different groups, nearly all the parties changed their name and particularly in the Flemish part of the country, different kinds of alliances between parties emerged). |
Conclusion |
Hoe duurzaam is de heraangelegde Dorpsstraat?Lessen uit 8 oktober 2006 |
Tijdschrift | Res Publica, Aflevering 1 2007 |
Auteurs | Johan Ackaert, Herwig Reynaert en Peter Van Aelst |
SamenvattingAuteursinformatie |
Although the 2006 local elections can hardly be described as ‘historical’, there is sufficient evidence to distinguish remarkable characteristics associated with this elections. For the first time in decades, turnout has been growing. This evolution can be explained by several factors. This article emphasizes besides the impact of changes in the electoral rules, transformations in demographic structure of the population and the stake of the elections the importance of the media campaign surrounding the elections. However, in spite of this (national) campaigns, there are more than enough indications that local politics keeps its local ‘nature’. Secondly, the 2006 elections were the first ones organised after the transfer of the responsibility for municipality legislation from the federal state to the regions. This means that each region designed its own local government architecture and electoral rules. Yet, in practice, the consequences of this transformations seem to be very limited. Thirdly, and particular in the Flemish region, ‘strong mayors’ arose from the ballot stations (with the Antwerp mayor as the most spectacular case). The consequences of this trend will in the future be the issue of a new debate concerning the relations between council, board of alderman and mayor. |