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Policy Work on Fire a Study of the Dutch Firework Policy Tightening and the Efficacy of Citizen Engagement and Awareness-Raising Measures

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Policy Work on Fire a Study of the Dutch Firework Policy Tightening and the Efficacy of Citizen Engagement and Awareness-Raising Measures Master’s Thesis MSc. Public Administration – International and European Governance Sophia M. Würtz (s2410079) E-Mail: [email protected] Supervision: Dr. Jelmer Schalk 2nd Reader: Dr. Rik de Ruiter Date of Submission: 21st of July 2020 Policy Work on Fire A study of the Dutch Firework Policy Tightening and the Efficacy of Citizen Engagement and Awareness-raising Measures Abstract This paper investigates the extent to which citizen engagement and awareness- raising approaches can contribute to citizens’ perceived legitimacy of the Dutch firework policy tightening. Based on the theoretical knowledge presented in existing literature, specific hypotheses are distilled. Briefly worded, the assumption is that citizen-engagement positively impacts citizens’ perceived legitimacy. However, this relationship is assumed to be mediated by conflicts of interests, whose negative impact can be positively moderated by awareness- raising projects. The findings of the in-depths study of, primarily, the outcomes of a publicly accessible case-related online consultation and twelve interviews do not confound the existing theories. However, new insights can be added and the given hypotheses require for refinements. Particularly concerns about the policy’s effectiveness appear prominent. Table of Contents 1. Introduction ............................................................................................................... 3 1.1. Research Question and Main Concepts .................................................... 3 1.2. Research Goals ............................................................................................ 4 1.3. Setup of the Paper....................................................................................... 5 2. Case – The Dutch Firework Policy Debate ........................................................ 5 2.1. Firework-related Hazards ......................................................................... 5 2.2. Developments around the Dutch Firework Policy................................... 8 2.3. Relevance of the Case ............................................................................... 12 3. Concepts and Theoretical Framework ............................................................. 14 3.1. Citizen Engagement .................................................................................. 14 3.2. Awareness-raising ..................................................................................... 15 3.3. Legitimacy ................................................................................................. 15 3.4. Risk-informed Policy Making.................................................................. 16 3.5. Communication, Cooperation and the Interplay of Reciprocity, Trust and Reputation ................................................................................................................... 17 3.6. Hypotheses and Conceptual Model ......................................................... 21 3.7. Main Hypotheses....................................................................................... 25 3.8. Alternative Hypothesis ............................................................................. 27 4. Research Design and Methodology .................................................................. 28 4.1. Case Selection ............................................................................................ 28 4.2. Data Collection .......................................................................................... 29 4.3. Operationalization .................................................................................... 31 4.4. Analytical Strategy for the Interview Transcripts ................................ 35 5. Analytical Presentation of the Findings .......................................................... 39 5.1. Findings from the Citizen Consultation ................................................. 39 5.1.1. The Issue of Illegal Fireworks........................................................................................... 40 5.1.2. Implications for Firework Businesses ............................................................................... 41 5.1.3. Awareness-raising and Safety Concerns ........................................................................... 42 5.1.4. Cultural Implications ......................................................................................................... 42 5.1.5. Interim Conclusion based on the Outcomes of the Online Consultation .......................... 43 5.2. Finding from the Interviews .................................................................... 43 5.2.1. Citizen Engagement and Awareness-raising Approaches................................................. 44 5.2.2. The Potential of Awareness-raising Approaches .............................................................. 44 1 5.2.3. Preventing an abrupt Change ............................................................................................ 45 5.2.4. The Importance of Communication .................................................................................. 46 5.2.5. Providing Real-life Insights and the Importance of Lucidity............................................ 47 5.2.6. Public Support and the Challenge of Extensive Outreach ................................................ 48 5.2.7. Community Feeling and a Sense of Policy Ownership ..................................................... 50 5.2.8. Conflicting Interests and the Complexity of the Topic ..................................................... 50 5.2.9. A Change of Mindset ........................................................................................................ 53 5.2.10. The Challenge of Managing Policy Violations and the Doubts about Effectiveness ..... 53 5.2.11. Strategic Considerations for the Citizen Engagement and Awareness-raising Projects . 55 5.2.12 Suspect Limited Scope of Motivation for the Initiation of the Policy Tightening .......... 55 5.3. Implications for the Hypotheses .............................................................. 56 6. Discussion and Conclusion .............................................................................. 57 6.1.1. Implications for the Literature and the Dutch Firework Policy Case ............................... 58 6.1.2. Limitations and Suggestions for Optimization ................................................................. 60 6.1.3. Takeaways for Public Administration and Policy Making ............................................... 60 6.1.4. Suggestions for Future Research ....................................................................................... 61 Acknowledgments........................................................................................................ 62 References ................................................................................................................... 62 Appendices ................................................................................................................... 67 Appendix I - Overview of Interview Requests and Response Rate ................... 67 Appendix II – Explanation of the Motives for the Interview Requests ............. 71 Appendix III - Coding Scheme for the Interview Transcripts ........................... 75 2 Policy Work on Fire A study of the Dutch Firework Policy Tightening and the Efficacy of Citizen Engagement and Awareness-Raising Measures 1. Introduction The lightening of fireworks, especially around the turn of the year, is a highly debated topic that has made it into the policy making sphere. Next to beautifully ornamenting night skies, presenting the highlight of the New Year’s evening tradition for many people, the usage of fireworks brings along controversies. In fact, the impacts of firework activities touch upon many different fields, such as public health issues, different kinds of nuisance, physical and property damages, environmental and atmospheric pollution, illicit trade, safety and security issues and continuing. Evidently, various, partially conflicting, interests, surrounding the topic of fireworks, are present. Touching upon various intertwined, globally acknowledged socio- political challenges, it can be stated that the decisions of individuals whether to use fireworks or not, as well as which kinds and in what manner, have an impact on the common good. Consequently, the issues related to fireworks qualify as social dilemma, demanding for collective action to be solved. Altogether, it appears apparent that the debate on fireworks also raises ethical, organizational and policy questions. Addressing the topic from a governmental perspective, strategies on how to provide the best policy framework possible, navigating all actors involved, needs to be developed. Otherwise put, what is required, is an appropriate governance solution that takes into consideration the multifacetedness of the at first glance seemingly narrow issue of firework usage. In this way, it presents a challenge that can be placed in the policy-making environment, embedded in the overarching field of public administration. 1.1. Research Question and Main Concepts The contemporary Dutch firework policy debate depicts a domestic case where the firework- related risks are addressed with a respective policy tightening to become effective towards the end of 2020 (Van Veldhoven - Van der Meer, 2020). Aiming to counteract the hazards, especially the injury rate, this tightening entails
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