Public Governance
The quality of politics and governance is crucial for a well-functioning liberal democracy. Political and administrative decision-making and accountability are under pressure due to challenges such as climate change, digitalization, and growing public distrust.
Within the Public Governance research group, we study how politics, policy, and administration function in this changing world. We do so by integrating more traditional political science and public administration research with insights from behavioural studies. This approach provides new perspectives on decision-making, accountability, and regulation. We also connect research on classical questions of legitimacy, representation, and effectiveness with emerging issues such as illiberalism, climate change, and social divides.
Led by Prof. Barbara Vis and Prof. Thomas Schillemans, we focus on the following two research lines: (1.) Political-Administrative Institutions and Behaviour and (2) Accountability, Regulation and Legitimacy.
Political-Administrative Institutions and Behaviour
In this research line, we examine how political and administrative actors鈥攆rom prime ministers to local council members鈥攎ake decisions, collaborate, and govern. We focus both on individuals and on institutions such as political parties or the European Commission. We also pay attention to the role of citizens. Our themes include:
- Behaviour of local and national representatives;
- Leadership and decision-making within the EU;
- Development of political parties, including right-wing populist parties and parties in Central and Eastern Europe;
- The development and effects of political trust.
Accountability, Regulation and Legitimacy
An increasing number of public tasks are carried out by quasi-autonomous experts, independent regulatory bodies, private organisations, or hybrid forms thereof. This makes effective accountability and regulation both crucial and complex. In this research line, we study how accountability and regulation are evolving in a world where the boundaries between government, market, and society are shifting. Our key themes include:
- How accountability systems influence behaviour within organisations;
- The balance between autonomy, regulation, accountability, and legitimacy;
- New forms of regulatory governance in an open, interconnected society;
Functioning, sustainability and innovation of administrative institutions in disruptive times marked by societal polarisation and climate change.