Struggling for meaning in the Dutch infrastructure sector: An interpretative analysis of political-executive decision making practices concerning infrastructure development in the Netherlands: Strijden om betekenis in de Nederlandse infrastructurele sector Een interpretatieve analyse van bestuurlijke praktijken van besluitvorming over infrastructurele ontwikkelingen in Nederland

Research output: ThesisDoctoral Thesis

Abstract

Decision-making concerning future infrastructural developments in
the Netherlands is often perceived as problematic, taking too much
time and producing suboptimal outcomes. These problems are partly
ascribed to the practices of Ministers, Provincial Delegates and
Alderpersons during infrastructural decision-making. However, the
actual decision-making practices of these political-executives remain
enigmatic and difficult to grasp. This study develops an alternative
view on these practices based on a meaning making perspective.
Political-executives tell powerful stories which frame infrastructural
developments according to their own interests. Together they have to
negotiate a mutual story which gives common meaning to a potential
development, enabling them to make a legitimate decision.
The research findings are based on the interpretive analysis of a multitude of stories
derived from in-depth interviews with political-executives and other decision-makers.
The study demonstrates that the decision-making practice of Ministers, Delegates and
Alderpersons can be regarded as a form of strategic story-telling. All of them attempt
to use different power sources in order to increase the impact of their own framing
story upon the common meaning of a potential project. The result is a negotiation of a
mutual story which legitimizes decision-making. Moreover, political-executives are less
interested in specific projects and more interested in realizing their own broader strategic
agenda. Therefore they use decision-making processes as vehicles or stepping stones for
bringing their plans into being: instead of thinking ‘what can I do for decision-making’,
they think ‘what can decision-making do for me and my community’. Ministers, Delegates
and Alderpersons are involved in a struggle for meaning as they all try to influence not
only the meaning of specific projects but also the meaning of the overall national agenda
for future infrastructural development.
Original languageEnglish
QualificationDoctor of Philosophy
Awarding Institution
  • VU University
Supervisors/Advisors
  • Veenswijk, Marcel, Promotor, External person
  • de Heer, Jaap, Co-promotor, External person
Thesis sponsors
Award date24 Nov 2014
Publication statusPublished - 24 Nov 2014
Externally publishedYes

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