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Abstract
to engage the public. Engagement processes lead to tensions between the
rising expectation to engage the public on the one hand, and the bureaucratic
and managerial expectations, which still largely characterise municipal organisations, on the other. Based on focus groups totalling 73 frontline civil servants in ten Dutch municipalities, this article explores what tensions arise and
through what practices civil servants handle them. We contribute to the recent
debates on public engagement, showing that civil servants do not just use their
discretion to deal with the tensions surrounding rules and policies, departmentalisation and performance management. They negotiate with colleagues and align people, structures and resources inside and outside their organisation to make public engagement work. In addition, the findings suggest that tensions mostly surface in interactions between civil servants. A real challenge in engagement, therefore, lies in developing shared resolutions with one’s colleagues.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 615-639 |
Number of pages | 25 |
Journal | Local Government Studies |
Volume | 48 |
Issue number | 3 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 4 May 2022 |
Keywords
- Public engagement
- focus groups
- citizen participation
- citizens’ initiatives
- frontline work
- civil servants
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Dive into the research topics of 'Encounters with the organisation: How local civil servants experience and handle tensions in public engagement'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.Projects
- 2 Finished
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Global Law & Governance
Adams, M. (Researcher), Arnoldussen, T. (Researcher), Augenstein, D. (Researcher), Bastmeijer, K. (Researcher), Bijlmakers, S. (Researcher), Boot, E. (Researcher), Bot, M. (Researcher), De ruysscher, D. (Researcher), Fleurke, F. (Researcher), Goodwin, M. (Researcher), Goossens, J. (Researcher), Groenleer, M. (Researcher), Grover, L. (Researcher), Hendriks, F. (Researcher), Jägers, N. (Researcher), Karsten, N. (Researcher), Leenknegt, G.-J. (Researcher), Lesaffer, R. (Researcher), Lindahl, H. (Researcher), Maleki, A. (Researcher), Paiement, P. (Researcher), Partiti, E. (Researcher), Rajkovic, N. (Researcher), Raucea, C. (Researcher), Rombouts, B. (Researcher), Somsen, H. (Researcher), Trouwborst, A. (Researcher), Tzankova, I. (Researcher), Verschuuren, J. (Researcher), Wilthagen, T. (Researcher), Wolf, E. (Researcher), Wolswinkel, J. (Researcher), Zouridis, S. (Researcher), van Hulst, M. (Principal Investigator), van Waas, L. (Researcher), van der Schyff, G. (Researcher), Hirsch Ballin, E. (Researcher), Meuwese, A. (Researcher), Van Hulle, I. (Researcher), Stapper, M. (Researcher), Clements, R. (Researcher), Kari, V. (Researcher), Sipiorski, E. (Researcher), Mooij, A. (Researcher), den Hollander, M. (Researcher), Oosterom-Staples, H. (Researcher), van Bockel, B. (Researcher), Cavalcanti, M. (Researcher), Delgado, L. (Researcher), Geuens, M. (Researcher), Koenraad, R. (Researcher), Leach, M. (Researcher), Leijten, I. (Researcher), Leloup, M. (Researcher), Lukkari, H. (Researcher), Muslu, Z. (Researcher), Palombo, D. (Researcher), Bazzan, G. (Researcher), Frins, R. (Researcher), Gkliati, M. (Researcher), Kempeneer, S. (Researcher), Ranchordás, S. (Researcher), Timmermans, N. (Researcher), Huisman, P. (Researcher), Kaufmann, R. (Researcher), van Ostaaijen, J. (Researcher) & in 't Veld, M. (Researcher)
1/01/19 → 31/12/23
Project: Research project
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Ambtelijk Vakmanschap in de Participatiemaatschappij (Civil servant's practices)
van Hulst, M. (Co-Investigator), Hendriks, F. (Co-Investigator) & Blijleven, W. (Co-Investigator)
1/09/17 → 1/06/19
Project: Research project