University of Groningen Novel forms of governance with high levels of civic self-reliance Ubels, Hiska

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University of Groningen

Novel forms of governance with high levels of civic self-reliance

Ubels, Hiska

DOI:

10.33612/diss.111587565

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Publication date: 2020

Link to publication in University of Groningen/UMCG research database

Citation for published version (APA):

Ubels, H. (2020). Novel forms of governance with high levels of civic self-reliance. University of Groningen. https://doi.org/10.33612/diss.111587565

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Novel forms of governance with high levels

of civic self-reliance

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This research was conducted at the Faculty of Spatial Sciences of the University of Groningen, The Netherlands.

ISBN 978-94-034-2082-0 ISBN (E-publication) 978-94-034-2081-3

Cover design Jaike Hellinga and Mabel Ubels Printing GVO Drukkers en Vormgevers

English language editing Language Centre of the University of Groningen © H. Ubels, 2020.

All rights reserved. Save exceptions stated by law, no part of this publication may be reproduced in any form, by print, photocopying, or otherwise, without the prior written permission from the author.

Novel forms of governance with

high levels of civic self-reliance

PhD thesis

to obtain the degree of PhD at the University of Groningen

on the authority of the Rector Magnificus Prof. C. Wijmenga

and in accordance with the decision by the College of Deans. This thesis will be defended in public on Thursday 30 January 2020 at 14.30 hours

by

Hiska Ubels

born on 15 June 1970

in Bedum

Novel forms of governance with

high levels of civic self-reliance

PhD thesis

by

Hiska Ubels

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Novel forms of governance with

high levels of civic self-reliance

PhD thesis

by

Hiska Ubels

in Bedum

Novel forms of governance with

high levels of civic self-reliance

PhD thesis

by

Hiska Ubels

(5)

Supervisors

Prof. B.B. Bock Prof. T. Haartsen

Assessment Committee

Prof. L.G. Horlings Prof. G.J. Hospers Prof. H. Ernste

‘Wie is hier de baas?’ vroeg ik Ze zeiden: ‘Het volk natuurlijk’

Ik zei: ‘Natuurlijk het volk

maar wie is er werkelijk de baas?’

Erich Fried (1921-1988)1

1_{vertaald door Hans W. Bakx}

Supervisors

Assessment Committee

(6)

Supervisors

Assessment Committee

1_{vertaald door Hans W. Bakx}

Supervisors

Assessment Committee

(7)

Table of contents

1. Introduction 9

2. An evolutionary perspective on experimental local governance arrangements with local governments and residents in Dutch rural areas of depopulation

27 3. The dynamics of self-governance capacity: the Dutch rural civic initiative

‘Project Ulrum 2034’

55 4. Social innovation and community-focussed civic initiatives in the context of rural

depopulation: for everybody by everybody? Project Ulrum 2034

87 5. Non-engagement of mid-aged and elderly residents in rural civic initiatives 121

6. Conclusion 149

Appendix A: Enquête ‘Burgerinitiatieven in gebieden met bevolkingskrimp: Project

Ulrum 2034’

165 Appendix B: Vragen voor het panel van het Fries Sociaal Planbureau oktober 2018 171 Summary in Dutch/Nederlandstalige samenvatting 173

1. Introduction 9

6. Conclusion 149

Ulrum 2034’

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1. Introduction 9

6. Conclusion 149

Ulrum 2034’

1. Introduction 9

6. Conclusion 149

Ulrum 2034’

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Chapter 2-5 of this PhD dissertation are reprinted from the following publications and manuscripts:

Chapter 2 (with some minor adjustments)

Ubels, H., Bock, B.B. and Haartsen, T. (2019). An evolutionary perspective on experimental local governance arrangements with local governments and residents in Dutch rural areas of depopulation. Environment and Planning C: Politics and Space, 37, 1277-1295.

Ubels, H., Bock, B.B. and Haartsen, T. (2019). The dynamics of self-governance capacity: the Dutch rural civic initiative ‘Project Ulrum 2034’. Sociologia Ruralis, 59 (4), 763-788.

Ubels, H., Haartsen, T. and Bock, B.B. (2019). Social innovation and community-focussed civic initiatives in the context of rural depopulation: for everybody by everybody? Project Ulrum 2034.

Journal of Rural Studies, 00 (00), 1-11. Chapter 5

Ubels, H. Bock, B.B. and Haartsen, T. (2019). Non-engagement of mid-aged and elderly residents in rural civic initiatives. Under revision at an international journal

1. Introduction

1.1 Motivation

Political agreement 2018-2022 of Municipality of Midden Groningen (northeast of the Netherlands):

We are firmly committed to self-reliant and liveable villages and hamlets. In close collaboration with residents and organisations of course. The new municipality of Midden Groningen will be a collection of communities in which residents are jointly responsible for the liveability. The municipality and residents are increasingly becoming equal partners.

Political agreement 2018-2022 of Municipality of Bronckhorst (east of the Netherlands)

We see an active and responsible society that is well able to take initiatives. We stand for shared responsibility, partnership and reciprocity by 1. connecting as a municipality to society in a way and in a time that is supportive to civic initiatives, and 2. stimulating and challenging society to take responsibility.

These are just two random passages from political agreements of municipalities in the Netherlands that show that the local governments in question search to redefine roles and responsibilities for their citizens and themselves. They also illustrate the prevailing discourse that citizens can fill in the gaps that result from public budget cuts in more effective and efficient ways than governments. High levels of civic self-reliance in addressing local issues are moreover believed to contribute to civic empowerment and local social cohesion through enhanced collaboration (Gieling and Haartsen, 2017; De Haan et al., 2017). A similar development can be witnessed in other Western European countries, where local governments promote innovative governance forms with citizens (Silva & Bucek, 2014). In the UK, for example, the ’Big Society’ agenda has experimented with shifts of decision-making about social and financial issues to local communities since 2010 (Bailey, 2012; Healey, 2015; Hobson et al., 2019).

9 Chapter 2-5 of this PhD dissertation are reprinted from the following publications

and manuscripts:

Ubels, H., Bock, B.B. and Haartsen, T. (2019). An evolutionary perspective on experimental local governance arrangements with local governments and residents in Dutch rural areas of depopulation. Environment and Planning C: Politics and Space, 37, 1277-1295.

Ubels, H., Bock, B.B. and Haartsen, T. (2019). The dynamics of self-governance capacity: the Dutch rural civic initiative ‘Project Ulrum 2034’. Sociologia Ruralis, 59 (4), 763-788.

Ubels, H., Haartsen, T. and Bock, B.B. (2019). Social innovation and community-focussed civic initiatives in the context of rural depopulation: for everybody by everybody? Project Ulrum 2034.

Journal of Rural Studies, 00 (00), 1-11. Chapter 5

Ubels, H. Bock, B.B. and Haartsen, T. (2019). Non-engagement of mid-aged and elderly residents in rural civic initiatives. Under revision at an international journal

1. Introduction

1.1 Motivation

Political agreement 2018-2022 of Municipality of Midden Groningen (northeast of the Netherlands):

We are firmly committed to self-reliant and liveable villages and hamlets. In close collaboration with residents and organisations of course. The new municipality of Midden Groningen will be a collection of communities in which residents are jointly responsible for the liveability. The municipality and residents are increasingly becoming equal partners.

Political agreement 2018-2022 of Municipality of Bronckhorst (east of the Netherlands)

We see an active and responsible society that is well able to take initiatives. We stand for shared responsibility, partnership and reciprocity by 1. connecting as a municipality to society in a way and in a time that is supportive to civic initiatives, and 2. stimulating and challenging society to take responsibility.

These are just two random passages from political agreements of municipalities in the Netherlands that show that the local governments in question search to redefine roles and responsibilities for their citizens and themselves. They also illustrate the prevailing discourse that citizens can fill in the gaps that result from public budget cuts in more effective and efficient ways than governments. High levels of civic self-reliance in addressing local issues are moreover believed to contribute to civic empowerment and local social cohesion through enhanced collaboration (Gieling and Haartsen, 2017; De Haan et al., 2017). A similar development can be witnessed in other Western European countries, where local governments promote innovative governance forms with citizens (Silva & Bucek, 2014). In the UK, for example, the ’Big Society’ agenda has experimented with shifts of decision-making about social and financial issues to local communities since 2010 (Bailey, 2012; Healey, 2015; Hobson et al., 2019).