Decide and Defend. Regaining Authority for Controversial Decisions
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Tilburg University Decide and defend Karsten, N. Publication date: 2013 Document Version Publisher's PDF, also known as Version of record Link to publication in Tilburg University Research Portal Citation for published version (APA): Karsten, N. (2013). Decide and defend: Regaining authority for controversial decisions through rendering account. Optima Grafische Communicatie. 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Download date: 30. sep. 2021 Decide and Defend Uitnodiging U bent van harte uitgenodigd voor de openbare verdediging door Niels Karsten van zijn proefschrift Decide and Defend Decide and Defend Regaining authority for controversial Regaining authority for controversial decisions through rendering account decisions through rendering account account rendering decisions through Regaining authority for controversial Decide and Defend Tijdstip Vrijdag 12 april 2013, 10.00 uur Regaining authority for controversial Locatie Mayors and aldermen frequently make controversial decisions, for instance Tilburg University when they locate disputed facilities for the homeless. Political-executives’ decisions through rendering account Aula, Cobbenhagen gebouw authority is readily challenged, especially when they make such decisions Warandelaan 2 5037AB Tilburg through a Decide-Announce-Defend approach. A directive leadership style is antithetical to the nature of consensus democracies like the Netherlands and U wordt verzocht een kwartier voor Belgium. The puzzle of how local political-executives can enforce controversial aanvang aanwezig te zijn. decisions in a consensus-oriented context and at the same time counter the Aansluitend is er een receptie. challenges to their political authority is at the centre of this book. Six case Vanaf 13:30 vindt er een studies present empirical evidence of how, in the face of these challenges, Niels Karsten discussiebijeenkomst plaats op de universiteit over de zorginhoudelijke executives can regain authority through rendering account, that is, by explaining kant van de locatiekeuze, in and justifying their decisions. samenwerking met Stichting voor Maatschappelijke Opvang Traverse. Nadere informatie daarover volgt. The study provides a novel understanding of accountability, emphasising the perspective of the accountor. It shows that political-executives, too, Niels Karsten have a role in shaping the as yet little understood communicative practice Boksdoornerf 134 5038KD Tilburg of accountability, and argues that accountability is a means in the hands of 06-44608641 political-executives as opposed to a burden placed on them. The findings call upon political leaders’ willingness to position themselves as ‘accountable Paranimfen Lars Tummers leaders’ and appeal to their skills and competences to make accountable (06-18818535) leadership work. Stefanie Schipperen (06-30110894) [email protected] Niels Karsten is an Assistant Professor at the Tilburg School of Politics and Public Administration, Tilburg University. His research specialises in local polit- Niels Karsten ical-executive leadership. Omslag: Niels Karsten cover [5606] Formaat: 170 x 240 mm Boekenlegger: 70 x 230 mm FC Rugdikte: 19,4 mm Datum: 05/03/2013 Decide and Defend Regaining authority for controversial decisions through rendering account Niels Karsten Cover design: Lisa Keijzer Cover photo: Edwin Wiekens (made in Breda, the Netherlands; not one of the cases included in this book) Layout and printing: Optima Grafische Communicatie, Rotterdam, the Netherlands ISBN 978-94-6169-356-3 © Niels Karsten, 2013 All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior permission in writing from the proprietor(s). Decide and Defend Regaining authority for controversial decisions through rendering account Proefschrift ter verkrijging van de graad van doctor aan Tilburg University op gezag van de rector magnificus, prof. dr. Ph. Eijlander, in het openbaar te verdedigen ten overstaan van een door het college voor promoties aangewezen commissie in de aula van de Universiteit op vrijdag 12 april 2013 om 10.15 uur door Niels Karsten geboren op 5 januari 1984 te Rotterdam. Promotor: prof. dr. F. Hendriks Copromotor: dr. L. Schaap Overige leden van de Promotiecommissie: prof. dr. mr. M.A.P. Bovens prof. dr. G.J.M. van den Brink prof. dr. H. Reynaert prof. dr. mr. S. Zouridis 5 Acknowledgements St. Francis of Assisi once said: “Start by doing what is necessary, then what is possible, and suddenly you are doing the impossible.” Most of the mayors and aldermen dis- cussed in this thesis have done just that. They have managed to establish necessary, but highly controversial facilities for the homeless and have regained authority for their location decisions through explaining and justifying why they made these particular decisions. They have effectively shown directive leadership in a context that is particu- larly ill-disposed towards such a leadership style. Considering the controversiality of human service facility location decisions and the general mistrust of directive lead- ership, political-executives’ ability to regain authority was unexpected. And indeed, not all succeeded in doing so to the same extent. The aim of this thesis was to gain understanding of how making controversial decisions affects executives’ authority, more specifically, whether and how the rendering of account influences mayors and aldermen’s authority. My attempt to answer that question has been an unforgettable experience, a true journey of discovery in the realm of locational conflict. Back in 2008, the project started out as a predominantly theoretical enterprise that focused on the relationship between the call for stronger leadership and the call for responsiveness. If it had not been for my supervisor, prof. Frank Hendriks, this thesis would have contained a multitude of intricate conceptual explorations of ‘leadership’, ‘accountability’, ‘authority’, ‘political support’, and the like. What I will remember most of Frank’s supervision is the ‘tja…’ he occasionally wrote in the margins of sec- tions of my work that I mistakenly thought of as original, though-provoking, and relevant pieces. I have taken ‘tja…’ to be the Frankian euphemism for ‘I cannot say it is wrong’, or even ‘well thought out, well-written, but utterly irrelevant’. My sincere thanks, Frank, for reminding me to “really say something about really something”, as you like to phrase it. A second word of thanks goes out to my co-supervisor, dr. Linze Schaap, who has also played his part in ‘keeping things real’ by encouraging me to go out into the field, and at the same time keeping me sharp on non-substantiated claims, inconsistencies, and grammar mistakes in my own texts. Linze, this thesis has substantially benefited from our long-lasting and greatly appreciated cooperation. I must admit that at first my supervisors had a hard time getting me to leave the relatively safe environment of the university, of books and theory, and to go out into the real world and speak to people. However, from then on, the practice of realising human service facilities and making controversial location decisions put a firm spell on me. As I found out, citizens, councillors, and political-executives play fascinating games that are riddled with true political disagreement, deliberate strategic behaviour, power play, lingering uncertainty, and genuine worries and emotions. 6 I would like to give a warm thank-you to my informants for allowing me to get what I realise can best be described as a brief glimpse of their day-to-day world. This is far more than the obligatory token of appreciation. Many have literally welcomed me behind closed doors, in their offices, meeting rooms, and living rooms, and have openly spoken about their experiences, thoughts, and feelings. Especially for the alder- men central in this study, whom I sometimes confronted with harsh remarks made by ‘anonymous others’ and critical observations of my own, being the object of the study was not always easy, and sometimes even very emotional. I deeply appreciate their continued engagement with my thesis and I have come to greatly respect political- executives’ efforts in realising human service facilities, though personally I am also critical of the way they sometimes communicate with citizens. Also, I have come to understand the commitment and devotion of neighbourhood residents to their causes and the sincerity of their opinions, worries, and emotions. Interviewing ‘boze bewoners’ (angry citizens) has been one of the great pleasures of writing this PhD thesis. At the same time, from my personal viewpoint, I would like to urge neighbourhood residents