Coalition Politics in the Netherlands: From Accommodation to Politicization

Abstract

Consociational theory leads us to expect relatively inclusive coalitions, relatively egalitarian and depoliticized cabinets, and relatively stable governments during the heyday of pillarization (1945–1966). Compared to that period, coalitions have indeed become less inclusive, more politicized, and slightly less stable. There is less empirical evidence of a significant change towards more hierarchical cabinets. In addition, the data in this paper also contradict some widely held beliefs about post-consociational coalition politics: there is no evidence that cabinet crises used to result in the formation of a new coalition before 1967, and to immediate elections since 1967; and there is no evidence that since 1967 cabinet crises and ministerial resignations result more often from a conflict in the cabinet room rather than from a conflict between parliament and government. Especially since 1987, a more assertive attitude of parliament appears to have influenced this development.