Social Discontent and Public Administration

Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations

Auteur(s): Boudewijn Steur, Ellen van Doorne and Thomas Zandstra

Our Western democracies are confronted with a growing feeling of social discontent characterized by a perceived downturn of society and the expectation that the future will be less promising than the present. In this paper we analyze contemporary literature and research to clarify whether this current feeling of discontent is different to previous periods of discontent in recent history and how it might affect the functioning of the Netherlands’ public administration. With this strategic study we want to examine the nature and significance of the social discontent among citizens. By doing so, we want to contribute to the discussion on this social phenomenon and the consequences thereof for the public administration.