The assassination of Pim Fortuyn and his party's dramatic gains in the May 2002 general election made Dutch politics front page news around the world. The collapse of the party he founded, however, was as rapid as its rise leading to equally dramatic changes in 2003. This revised and updated new edition of this marketleading text looks behind the headlines to provide a comprehensive introduction to governance and politics in The Netherlands. The authors explore the causes, impact and advantages and disadvantages of the quest for consensus, which remains its most striking characteristic, and provide full coverage of recent developments and events.

Table of Contents

The Country and its Constitution - A Country of Minorities - Political Parties and the Party System - Citizens and the Political System - The Core Executive - Parliament - The Policy-Making Process - Multi-Level Governance - Social and Economic Policy - Foreign Policy - The Strengths and Weaknesses of Consensus Government

Author Biography

RUDY B. ANDEWEG is Professor of Political Science, Leiden University, The Netherlands. GALEN A. IRWIN is Professor of Political Science, Leiden University, The Netherlands.