Articles

Dunken en driepunters : Intergemeentelijke samenwerking en bestuurskracht in Nederland

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Abstract

This article addresses the impact of intermunicipal cooperation on the administrative power of municipalities. lt focuses on a specific form of intermunicipal cooperation in the Netherlands, which is called 'WGRplus'. This concerns the intermunicipal cooperation in the major urban regions in the Netherlands. In this article administrative power is not used as a fixed and quantifiable concept, yet as a process that might contribute to the performance of individual municipalities. lt is argued that intermunicipal cooperation strengthens the possibilities of municipalities to address social challenges. The cooperation is considered to be successful and rewarding. lt also stimulates the cooperation with relevant social organisations. Yet this form of intermunicipal cooperation has a weak democratic and political profile. Next year the Dutch government will conduct a thorough evaluation of this specific form of intermunicipal cooperation. This is still necessary because the evidence that the administrative power of the municipalities benefits from this specific form of intermunicipal cooperation is not absolutely convincing.

How to Cite:

Castenmiller, P., (2009) “Dunken en driepunters : Intergemeentelijke samenwerking en bestuurskracht in Nederland”, Res Publica 51(3), 333-350.