Parliaments are the most important representative institutions that link citizens’ preferences to public policy-making. In recent years, however, expressions of discontent with established political processes as well as the growing success of populist parties raise serious questions about the degree to which parliaments still fulfill their representative functions. In the context of the Low Countries, moreover, extreme levels of party system fragmentation further complicate legislative decision-making, often impeding parliaments to effectively shape and influence policies.
This special issue of Politics of the Low Countries aims to contribute to our understanding of the contemporary role and functioning of parliaments in the Netherlands and Belgium. The guest editors, Tom Louwerse (Leiden University) and Benjamin de Vet (Ghent University), are looking for contributors on this topic and welcome papers with diverse methodological approaches. Research themes may include any issue related to the way in which parliaments in the Low Countries function, for example the internal organisation of parliaments, partisan dynamics in parliamentary activity, attitudes and behaviour of individual MPs, parliamentary careers, the quality of parliamentary work and MPs’ democratic responsiveness.
Both scientific articles and research notes can be submitted. A scientific article consists of a maximum of 10.000 words. A research note is not a full academic paper but a short presentation of original data. It seeks to explain and contextualize one aspect of parliaments or parliamentary behaviour in the Low Countries by presenting empirical material in a straightforward way. It is preferably between 3.000 and 4.000 words.
Abstracts and questions concerning the special issue may be sent to Tom Louwerse (t.p.louwerse@universiteitleiden.nl) or Benjamin de Vet (Benjamin.deVet@UGent.be)