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
Social media has become an integral component of public agencies and digital diplomacy. Prior scholars have emphasised the significance of social media in International relations (IR), discussing...Show moreSocial media has become an integral component of public agencies and digital diplomacy. Prior scholars have emphasised the significance of social media in International relations (IR), discussing its advantages and difficulties. Nevertheless, in terms of public administration, there is a gap in their management, namely, in understanding how to use different platforms and the significance of social media content in engaging with the public. This research delves into the field of digital Diplomacy, examining the strategic use of social media content by the European Union’s diplomatic missions based in Athens, focusing on engagement with the public. The mixed-method study examined how diplomatic missions use social media content to engage with the public by analyzing original posts on Twitter/X and Facebook and conducting semi-structured interviews with experts and diplomats from EU Ministries of Foreign Affairs (MFAs) and embassies. The findings revealed that the EU embassies tend to employ posts that promote the countries’ image and interests’ indicators of Symbolic representation. In addition,they demonstrate a preference for Transparency by regularly sharing content that aligns with the policies, daily agenda and activity of the MFAs or embassies. The analysis using the Engagement Index (EI) results is noteworthy as it signifies an enhanced public connection with Coproduction content. Finally, the study reveals the strategic use of the platforms and the content for effective public engagement. Future researchers can delve into new directions by exploring other platforms or focusing on public reaction via sentimental analysis. In summary, this research emphasizes the importance of social media in diplomatic missions' external communication and advances the field by implementing the framework in digital diplomacy, particularly in the EU.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
The behavioral theory of the firm lacks a comprehensive understanding of issue prioritization, particularly when multiple issues are performing below aspiration levels, or resources are limited....Show moreThe behavioral theory of the firm lacks a comprehensive understanding of issue prioritization, particularly when multiple issues are performing below aspiration levels, or resources are limited. This study investigates the prioritization of eGovernment initiatives, considering budget constraints and the emphasis on historical versus social aspiration levels. Two theoretical expectations were developed: 1) the prioritization of historical versus social aspiration levels, and 2) the prioritization of eGovernment initiatives under budget constraints. Semi-structured interviews with 9 public officials from the Directorate-General for Economic Activities in Portugal were conducted to assess the expectations. The thematic analysis revealed that public officials do not change the priorities of eGovernment initiatives based on budget constraints and predominantly prioritize social aspirations over historical ones. This study highlights the importance of pragmatism driven by necessity alongside creativity. The findings have implications for issue prioritization, performance feedback, cutback management, and public administration literature in general. Future research should expand the study to include coercive aspiration levels, less salient issues, different countries, and different public organizations. Additionally, preferences and public sector motivation can be included as moderators, and employing a mixed-methods approach could be beneficial.Show less
This research attempts to fill the gap in the literature regarding voting behavior in the Justice and Home Affairs configuration of the Council of the European Union. The results from fixed effect...Show moreThis research attempts to fill the gap in the literature regarding voting behavior in the Justice and Home Affairs configuration of the Council of the European Union. The results from fixed effect logistic regressions of various models are that the state of the national budget was the most important factor in explaining voting behavior in this configuration. While there are a multitude of research limitations that limit the generability of these results, it does provide a solid starting point for further research.Show less
The contemporary Russian invasion of Ukraine requires a reassessment of the European Union’s foreign policy tools as the threat of war has not been so high in recent history. As the EU’s sanction...Show moreThe contemporary Russian invasion of Ukraine requires a reassessment of the European Union’s foreign policy tools as the threat of war has not been so high in recent history. As the EU’s sanction regime is one of the most important tools for the union outside influence on that is important to be evaluated. For that Kingdon’s stream model is used, together with policy advisory systems theory, to analyse the influence of think tanks in the European Unions sanction regime. In this combined model a most similar system’s design is applied to analyse the influence of think tanks in similar cases. A relation is found between think tank publications and the implementation of sanctions, from which is inferred that the influence of think tanks is primarily in the political stream. Consequently, as the political stream is influenced that is the weakest spot of the EU’s sanction regime. As the EU consists of democratic states this is not a major issue because within the members states the decision-makers are held accountable. Moreover, the members of the European parliament are also held accountable so there are two manners that compensate this weakness.Show less
This thesis studies the effect of the ‘Besluit passende arbeid WW en ZW’ on alcohol and tobacco use of the unemployed who were treated by this reform. It is expected that the unemployed will...Show moreThis thesis studies the effect of the ‘Besluit passende arbeid WW en ZW’ on alcohol and tobacco use of the unemployed who were treated by this reform. It is expected that the unemployed will increase their alcohol and tobacco use due to the increased stress caused by the reform. The study uses a difference-in-difference with fixed effects to estimate the causal effect. The results show that there is an overall higher chance of suffering from stress and that the treated female unemployed have a higher chance of smoking. The results do not indicate an effect on men or alcohol consumption. All in all, there are some indications that the reforms leads to smoking but further research is necessary.Show less
