Politics of the Low Countries
@plc-journal.bsky.social
Official BlueSky Account of the peer-reviewed diamond open access journal Politics of the Low Countries
Official journal of the ABSP, NKWP, and the VPW
www.plc-journal.eu
Editors-in-chief @mauritsmeijers.bsky.social - @audreyvdleene.bsky.social
Official journal of the ABSP, NKWP, and the VPW
www.plc-journal.eu
Editors-in-chief @mauritsmeijers.bsky.social - @audreyvdleene.bsky.social
You can find the full research note here: plc-journal.eu/article/view...
Want to submit a research note of your own? Check out our author guidelines here: plc-journal.eu/authorinstru...
#parliamentarycommittees #roletheory #issuecompetition #belgianpolitics
Want to submit a research note of your own? Check out our author guidelines here: plc-journal.eu/authorinstru...
#parliamentarycommittees #roletheory #issuecompetition #belgianpolitics
Role-Switching and Thematic Reallocation in Belgian Parliamentary Committees: A Longitudinal Research Note
| Politics of the Low Countries
plc-journal.eu
October 5, 2026 at 9:08 AM
You can find the full research note here: plc-journal.eu/article/view...
Want to submit a research note of your own? Check out our author guidelines here: plc-journal.eu/authorinstru...
#parliamentarycommittees #roletheory #issuecompetition #belgianpolitics
Want to submit a research note of your own? Check out our author guidelines here: plc-journal.eu/authorinstru...
#parliamentarycommittees #roletheory #issuecompetition #belgianpolitics
✍ A shift in role stresses parties’ need to both adjust to the competitive situation in which they find themselves (be that the coalition’s need for stability and internal harmony, or the opposition vote-seeking behaviour) and maintain ownership over the issues they are most closely connected to.
October 5, 2026 at 9:08 AM
✍ A shift in role stresses parties’ need to both adjust to the competitive situation in which they find themselves (be that the coalition’s need for stability and internal harmony, or the opposition vote-seeking behaviour) and maintain ownership over the issues they are most closely connected to.
📣 Role adaptation to accommodate the shift from government to opposition party functions as a “selective amplification”, as the effect is most visible when it matches party issue ownership, adversarial incentives and committee opportunity structures.
October 5, 2026 at 9:08 AM
📣 Role adaptation to accommodate the shift from government to opposition party functions as a “selective amplification”, as the effect is most visible when it matches party issue ownership, adversarial incentives and committee opportunity structures.
This question forms the basis of Vittorio Poppe’s longitudinal research note ‘Role-Switching and Thematic Reallocation in Belgian Parliamentary Committees’, out now! Relying on an analysis of francophone parties’ interventions in Belgian federal Interior and Justice committees, he shows that:
October 5, 2026 at 9:08 AM
This question forms the basis of Vittorio Poppe’s longitudinal research note ‘Role-Switching and Thematic Reallocation in Belgian Parliamentary Committees’, out now! Relying on an analysis of francophone parties’ interventions in Belgian federal Interior and Justice committees, he shows that:
You can find the full article here: plc-journal.eu/article/view...
Interested in more article from our covid special issue? Click here: plc-journal.eu/issue/view/1...
#covid19 #minoritygoverment #crisisresponse #opposition
Interested in more article from our covid special issue? Click here: plc-journal.eu/issue/view/1...
#covid19 #minoritygoverment #crisisresponse #opposition
Opposition in Times of COVID-19: To Support or Not to Support?
| Politics of the Low Countries
plc-journal.eu
September 28, 2026 at 8:35 AM
You can find the full article here: plc-journal.eu/article/view...
Interested in more article from our covid special issue? Click here: plc-journal.eu/issue/view/1...
#covid19 #minoritygoverment #crisisresponse #opposition
Interested in more article from our covid special issue? Click here: plc-journal.eu/issue/view/1...
#covid19 #minoritygoverment #crisisresponse #opposition
✊ Parties within the mainstream opposition balanced support and criticism as they saw opportunities for political gain and vote-seeking behaviour, whereas challenger parties were more deliberately opposing the government in line with their usual political style.
September 28, 2026 at 8:35 AM
✊ Parties within the mainstream opposition balanced support and criticism as they saw opportunities for political gain and vote-seeking behaviour, whereas challenger parties were more deliberately opposing the government in line with their usual political style.
👀 Opposition parties accommodated the government’s crisis response to the pandemic in different ways. The mainstream socialist opposition parties supported the government to take necessary measures against the virus as matter of national solidarity, whilst at the same time keeping a “watchful eye”.
September 28, 2026 at 8:35 AM
👀 Opposition parties accommodated the government’s crisis response to the pandemic in different ways. The mainstream socialist opposition parties supported the government to take necessary measures against the virus as matter of national solidarity, whilst at the same time keeping a “watchful eye”.
Back in 2021, we published an article by @brittvandewalle.bsky.social, Wouter Wolfs and @stevenvanhecke.bsky.social (@io-pgi-kuleuven.bsky.social) on the dynamics of opposition/government relations in times of the corona crisis. They found that:
September 28, 2026 at 8:35 AM
Back in 2021, we published an article by @brittvandewalle.bsky.social, Wouter Wolfs and @stevenvanhecke.bsky.social (@io-pgi-kuleuven.bsky.social) on the dynamics of opposition/government relations in times of the corona crisis. They found that:
Interested in reading the entire article? Find it here on our website: plc-journal.eu/article/view...
#consociationalism #Gramsci #hegemony #Caesarism #passiverevolution
#consociationalism #Gramsci #hegemony #Caesarism #passiverevolution
Politics in the Low Countries through a Gramscian lens
| Politics of the Low Countries
plc-journal.eu
September 14, 2026 at 12:41 PM
Interested in reading the entire article? Find it here on our website: plc-journal.eu/article/view...
#consociationalism #Gramsci #hegemony #Caesarism #passiverevolution
#consociationalism #Gramsci #hegemony #Caesarism #passiverevolution
💡 In short, Gramsci’s work not only connects to many existing criticisms of Lijphart, it also provides several additional relevant concepts to help us better understand political conflict.
September 14, 2026 at 12:41 PM
💡 In short, Gramsci’s work not only connects to many existing criticisms of Lijphart, it also provides several additional relevant concepts to help us better understand political conflict.
🙋 A Gramscian approach allows politics to not only be studied from the perspective of accommodating mainstream parties, but also creates space for an analysis of the viewpoints of marginalised or subordinated social groups seeking emancipation.
September 14, 2026 at 12:41 PM
🙋 A Gramscian approach allows politics to not only be studied from the perspective of accommodating mainstream parties, but also creates space for an analysis of the viewpoints of marginalised or subordinated social groups seeking emancipation.
🔍 Whereas consociationalist analyses tend to focus on accommodative practices or downplay socio-political struggles and stalemates, the use of a Gramscian lens can increase attentivity to ideological, cultural and social factors that can impact both political stability and change.
September 14, 2026 at 12:41 PM
🔍 Whereas consociationalist analyses tend to focus on accommodative practices or downplay socio-political struggles and stalemates, the use of a Gramscian lens can increase attentivity to ideological, cultural and social factors that can impact both political stability and change.
@joukehuijzer.bsky.social (Vrije Universiteit Brussel) develops a Gramscian lens to answer this question, accounting not only for situations of relative stability, but also factors that underline recent political and ideological shifts. Comparing the works of Gramsci and Lijphart, he finds that:
September 14, 2026 at 12:41 PM
@joukehuijzer.bsky.social (Vrije Universiteit Brussel) develops a Gramscian lens to answer this question, accounting not only for situations of relative stability, but also factors that underline recent political and ideological shifts. Comparing the works of Gramsci and Lijphart, he finds that:
Our special issue on local politics is guest edited by Kristof Steyvers (Centre for Local Politics, UGent) and Julien van Ostaaijen (@tilburguniversity.bsky.social) and published by Radboud University Press!
#mayor #localpolitics #democraticinnovation #leadership
#mayor #localpolitics #democraticinnovation #leadership
September 7, 2026 at 9:30 AM
Our special issue on local politics is guest edited by Kristof Steyvers (Centre for Local Politics, UGent) and Julien van Ostaaijen (@tilburguniversity.bsky.social) and published by Radboud University Press!
#mayor #localpolitics #democraticinnovation #leadership
#mayor #localpolitics #democraticinnovation #leadership
📒 Municipal councils actively rely on population surveys to account for citizens’ expectations. Most vacancy profiles explicitly reference citizens’ input, be that through direct quotes or otherwise.
Full version: plc-journal.eu/article/view...
Full special issue: plc-journal.eu/issue/view/1...
Full version: plc-journal.eu/article/view...
Full special issue: plc-journal.eu/issue/view/1...
Are citizens looking for alternatives to bridging-and-bonding leadership? A secondary analysis of 38 population surveys and their impact on profiles for the Dutch mayoralty
| Politics of the...
plc-journal.eu
September 7, 2026 at 9:30 AM
📒 Municipal councils actively rely on population surveys to account for citizens’ expectations. Most vacancy profiles explicitly reference citizens’ input, be that through direct quotes or otherwise.
Full version: plc-journal.eu/article/view...
Full special issue: plc-journal.eu/issue/view/1...
Full version: plc-journal.eu/article/view...
Full special issue: plc-journal.eu/issue/view/1...
🤝 Around six out of ten citizens expect a mayor to be closely connected to their community. Mayors are expected to be a ‘father or mother’ type of characters, who are emotionally expressive and relatively informal in their communication style.
September 7, 2026 at 9:30 AM
🤝 Around six out of ten citizens expect a mayor to be closely connected to their community. Mayors are expected to be a ‘father or mother’ type of characters, who are emotionally expressive and relatively informal in their communication style.
🤔 Expectations of mayors differ greatly between citizens. When it comes to leadership style, for example, 45% of citizens prefer their mayor to be a stable factor, whereas 48% stress the need for someone who is more future-oriented in their approach.
September 7, 2026 at 9:30 AM
🤔 Expectations of mayors differ greatly between citizens. When it comes to leadership style, for example, 45% of citizens prefer their mayor to be a stable factor, whereas 48% stress the need for someone who is more future-oriented in their approach.
In it, Sabine van Zuydam, Niels Karsten and Marjolijn van Zonneveld dive into Dutch citizens’ expectations of their mayors, and their impact on the drafting of desired profiles in the mayoral selection procedures. Analysing population surveys conducted by 38 municipalities, they find that:
September 7, 2026 at 9:30 AM
In it, Sabine van Zuydam, Niels Karsten and Marjolijn van Zonneveld dive into Dutch citizens’ expectations of their mayors, and their impact on the drafting of desired profiles in the mayoral selection procedures. Analysing population surveys conducted by 38 municipalities, they find that:
Want the full story? Find the article here: plc-journal.eu/article/view...
#agendasetting #parliament #antielitism #issueownership
#agendasetting #parliament #antielitism #issueownership
Cancelling proposed debates: Agenda Setting, Issue Ownership and Anti-elitist Parliamentary Style
| Politics of the Low Countries
plc-journal.eu
September 2, 2026 at 7:22 AM
Want the full story? Find the article here: plc-journal.eu/article/view...
#agendasetting #parliament #antielitism #issueownership
#agendasetting #parliament #antielitism #issueownership
✍ Parties are more likely to keep a debate on the parliamentary agenda if it focuses on an issue from their manifestoes!
🔦 Larger parties are more likely to cancel their debates. For smaller ones, minority debates can be valuable in increasing attention for them or the issues they advocate for.
🔦 Larger parties are more likely to cancel their debates. For smaller ones, minority debates can be valuable in increasing attention for them or the issues they advocate for.
September 2, 2026 at 7:22 AM
✍ Parties are more likely to keep a debate on the parliamentary agenda if it focuses on an issue from their manifestoes!
🔦 Larger parties are more likely to cancel their debates. For smaller ones, minority debates can be valuable in increasing attention for them or the issues they advocate for.
🔦 Larger parties are more likely to cancel their debates. For smaller ones, minority debates can be valuable in increasing attention for them or the issues they advocate for.
📣 Anti-elitist parties are more likely to keep their minority debates on the agenda. Shares of held minority debates increase from 17% for non-populist parties to 33% for populist ones. The latter can use debates to criticise the government/voice opposition, instead of create policy support.
September 2, 2026 at 7:22 AM
📣 Anti-elitist parties are more likely to keep their minority debates on the agenda. Shares of held minority debates increase from 17% for non-populist parties to 33% for populist ones. The latter can use debates to criticise the government/voice opposition, instead of create policy support.