The figure of the neutral bureaucrat is endangered by the new challenges of New Public Management. The heightened attention on performance information and goal prioritization characterizing NPM...Show moreThe figure of the neutral bureaucrat is endangered by the new challenges of New Public Management. The heightened attention on performance information and goal prioritization characterizing NPM collides with political preferences and aspirations. The dissertation explores how political interferences influence the prioritization of goals in Dutch local governments. The research expects that the presence of conflicting goals will foster reprioritization considerations during bureaucratic performance evaluation. Through an experimental approach, combining the Experimental Vignette Method and semi-structured interviews, the research finds that political interference leads to goal reprioritization. The employment of thematic coding and subsequent analysis detects guiding explanations cascading from political interference, reinforcing the institutional constraints within the bureaucratic domain. Finally, the dissertation identifies theoretical and methodological limitations and provides practical implications for policymaking and suggestions for the reduction of institutional constraints in bureaucratic evaluation.Show less
This study analyses the role of issue saliency in the relationship between the retrenchment of the welfare state and the electoral outcomes of government parties in the next election. The role of...Show moreThis study analyses the role of issue saliency in the relationship between the retrenchment of the welfare state and the electoral outcomes of government parties in the next election. The role of issue saliency is tested by a statistical analysis across 25 European countries between 2001-2021. Three welfare state indicators, healthcare, pensions and unemployment, are used to see if their effect on electoral outcomes changes when they are more or less salient. The analysis shows a correlation between issue saliency and a positive effect of retrenchment on electoral outcome. Situations of budget constraints can explain the positive effects of electoral outcomes on electoral outcomes. We conclude that issue saliency is an accelerator for the effect the welfare state has on electoral results. Furthermore, we can conclude that budget constraints are an explanatory factor in why retrenchment measures positively affect electoral outcomes.Show less
The Covid-19 pandemic brought about unprecedented global challenges, impacting various aspects of society, including peoples’ work environments. In response to the pandemic, governments implemented...Show moreThe Covid-19 pandemic brought about unprecedented global challenges, impacting various aspects of society, including peoples’ work environments. In response to the pandemic, governments implemented policies mandating remote work wherever possible. Public sector agencies faced unique challenges in adapting to virtual work, especially given their traditional reliance on face-to-face interactions. This thesis investigates the impact of Covid-19 policies on the development and retention of e-leadership skills among public sector leaders in the municipality of Karlsruhe, Germany. Focusing on the durability of skill adaptations post-pandemic, the study addresses the research question: "What is the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic policies on the durable retention of e-leadership skills of public sector leaders post Covid-19?" Through seven semi-structured interviews with municipal leaders, the research explores which e-leadership skills, developed in response to pandemic policies, endure after their expiration. The analysis reveals a nuanced relationship between the Covid-19 pandemic policies and the retention of e-leadership skills. Some skills, such as e-technological, e-supporting, and e-trustworthiness skills, exhibit a lasting impact, while others, like e-social, e-team building, and e-motivational skills, show partial retention. These nuanced findings emphasize the complexity of e-leadership dynamics, calling for a tailored approach to address skill retention in the post-pandemic landscape.Show less
This study has delved into the nuanced dynamics of active representation within the context of gender and individual bureaucratic behavior. It employed a qualitative cross-sectional observational...Show moreThis study has delved into the nuanced dynamics of active representation within the context of gender and individual bureaucratic behavior. It employed a qualitative cross-sectional observational case study among local officials in the municipality of Amsterdam, using semi- structured interviews to investigate two key research questions: "How does active representation manifest itself?" and "Does gender affect active representation at the level of individual bureaucrats?" To address these questions, Lim's (2006) concepts of direct and indirect sources of substantive effects of passive representation are used as a framework for the analysis on active representation. It appeared that gender slightly affects the behaviour among civil servants when representing clients of the same gender.Show less
This master thesis investigates the internal politicization of the European Committee of the Regions (CoR) and its influence on representing local and regional interests within the EU. Through...Show moreThis master thesis investigates the internal politicization of the European Committee of the Regions (CoR) and its influence on representing local and regional interests within the EU. Through interviews and a comparative case study, this study challenges assumptions about politicization leading to a prioritization of political party interests over local concerns. Contrary to expectations, findings reveal that internal politicization grants CoR members the freedom to represent both local government interests and those of their political party. The cooperative institutional setting emphasizes substantive representation over symbolic representation, showcasing the CoR's unique role in the European Union. The study addresses a literature gap and contributes valuable insights into the nuanced dynamics of internal politicization within the CoR.Show less
Human-induced climate change is affecting weather and climate extremes worldwide, leading to losses and damages to nature and people. The literature has found mixed results on the effect of extreme...Show moreHuman-induced climate change is affecting weather and climate extremes worldwide, leading to losses and damages to nature and people. The literature has found mixed results on the effect of extreme weather events on climate attitudes. Using the EIB climate Survey data from 2019 to 2022, this thesis tries to assess the regional effect of floods on climate prioritisation, climate risk perception and the opinion that individual behaviour can make a difference in tackling climate change. It takes as a case study the July 2021 floods in the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany and France. Using a Differencein- Differences analysis with non-affected regions as a counterfactual, the thesis finds no statistically significant effect of the floods on climate attitudes at the regional level. However, consistently with the existing literature, the thesis emphasises the relevance of other good predictors such as political orientation, gender, economic risk perceptions, or age.Show less
In the past decades, scholars have been increasingly recognizing the importance of solid reputation building for the autonomy and legitimacy of independent regulatory agencies. In response to this...Show moreIn the past decades, scholars have been increasingly recognizing the importance of solid reputation building for the autonomy and legitimacy of independent regulatory agencies. In response to this growing body of research, this master thesis aims to understand the influence of the content of reputational threats on the reputational strategies of independent regulatory agencies (IRA). By investigating the reputational management of the Netherlands Authority for Consumers & Markets (ACM) during the Dutch energy crisis, this paper aims to shed light on the role of pre-existing levels of reputation. Using a qualitative framing analysis, this study argues that the ACM uses a more evasive response strategy regarding its functional areas that enjoy a solid reputation, whereas weaker reputations are more often protected with direct strategies. These evasive strategies include problem denial, promises of continued monitoring and managing public expectations. On the other hand, the direct responses include problem acknowledgment, taking active measures and emphasizing unique features. However, a too small sample of data was collected regarding the response strategy of unique features specifically. Moreover, the final hypothesis considers the role of prolonged reputational threats, yet mixed evidence left a conclusion impossible. Lastly, recognizing that regulatory agencies are perceived by the public as scientific institutions, this thesis maintains that it is important for regulatory agencies to properly divide its attention to all regulatory duties. This is necessary to avoid suspicion of bias due to reputational considerations and thereby impair the reputation they aim to protect.Show less
To accomplish policy tasks, political leaders and executives entrust bureaucrats who possess specialized knowledge, however in doing so, they face the potential loss of control over policy...Show moreTo accomplish policy tasks, political leaders and executives entrust bureaucrats who possess specialized knowledge, however in doing so, they face the potential loss of control over policy formulation and execution. This becomes problematic if bureaucrats hold differing preferences from their superiors. The study examines how leaders in public institutions behave in face of insubordination under modern governing conditions where decentralization, outsourcing and market-based reasoning are major factors. It establishes how executives manage bureaucratic insubordination in a specific case of Polish sub-national institutions, contributing to an academically underrepresented institutional setting. Supported by the typology of Yukl (2012) it outlines practical and realistic models of executive behavior.Show less
In sociological research, historical and sociological institutionalism is used to understand the decision-making process within institutions. Since Russia attacked Ukraine in 2022, the EU has...Show moreIn sociological research, historical and sociological institutionalism is used to understand the decision-making process within institutions. Since Russia attacked Ukraine in 2022, the EU has frequently underlined to take action to support Ukraine and its sovereignty. This research will create an understanding of how the EU comes to conflict policy and why the institution eventually imposed economic sanctions in response to Russia.Show less
This research study examines the impact of the Dutch Work and Security Act (WWZ) on job quality in the Netherlands, specifically focusing on earnings, job security, and working conditions. Using a...Show moreThis research study examines the impact of the Dutch Work and Security Act (WWZ) on job quality in the Netherlands, specifically focusing on earnings, job security, and working conditions. Using a Difference-in-Difference (DiD) approach, the study compares the effects of the WWZ between two groups: employees with temporary contracts (treatment group) and employees with permanent contracts (control group). The Longitudinal Internet Studies for Social Sciences (LISS) dataset from 2013 to 2019 is utilized for the analysis. The results indicate that the WWZ has a significant positive effect on job security and working conditions, supporting the hypotheses. However, satisfaction with income is not significantly affected by the WWZ, contrary to expectations. When considering different sectors, the effects of the WWZ on job quality are not significant overall, except for a significant positive effect on job security in the commercial service sector. This finding suggests that there may be additional factors influencing job quality in different sectors, warranting further investigation. Overall, this study contributes to the understanding of the outcomes and consequences of the WWZ in terms of job quality for temporary employees in the Netherlands.Show less
