INTRO ITC (2016-2017) THE DUTCH STATE: Territory, Society and Government 1
THE NETHERLANDS: A STATE? State = a conjunction of: - a certain territory - a (national) community - under the rule of a political authority
THE NETHERLANDS A small state within Europe.. 3
Currently small In terms of territory (41,824 km 2 ; #131) In terms of population (16,748,205; #65) Not so small Economic wealth (IMF: GDP per capita; 12 th ) Exports (# 6 value of exports) Cheese production (# 5) OS Medals Table Rio de Janeiro: #11 4
Spanish Habsburg Empire (1555/6)
United Provinces (1588-1795)
Dutch Republic s Imperialism 7
8
United Dutch Kingdom (1815-1830) 1830: Belgian Secession 1890: Luxembourg Secession 9
German occupation 1940-1945 10
Kingdom Netherlands 2016 Decolonisation 1949: Indonesia 1962: Papua New Guinea 1975: Suriname 11
European integration Loss of sovereignty Part of EURO-zone 12
Societal aspects: religion Dutch revolt: Protestant revolt against Catholic Spain A protestant nation? Not in the past. Not in the past.. Not now 1849 Red = protestant domination Green = catholic domination 13
Tolerance and immigration Relatively tolerant towards religious minorities Large groups of immigrants from Southern Netherlands (16/17 th century): including many Jews (Baruch Spinoza), later from Hugenots (from France) and elsewhere (e.g. John Locke) 14
Decolonisation and globalization New waves of immigration Colonies: Indonesia; Surinam and Dutch Antilles 1950s 1960s: workers from Italy, Spain and later also form Turkey and North Africa New waves of immigration as consequence of conflicts: former Yugoslavia, Africa, and most recently Syria 15
Limited tolerance and acceptance More than ever plural society Limited support for immigration and tolerance Especially amongst lower educated population 16
Political aspect: government Netherlands: Kingdom King Willem Alexander Ancestry: William of Orange; Father Dutch Revolt 1588 Not always a monarchy 17
Absolute monarchy (16-17th century) 18
The republican heritage Polycentric system Loose confederacy of seven provinces (consisting of independent cities/counties) At the state level States General (representing provinces) Stadtholder: military power (unitary) 19
Introduction of monarchy (1815) Limited powers of king: 1) Constitutionalization 2) Balance of power (republican heritage) 3) Democratization 4) Respecting human rights 20
FUNCTIONAL BALANCE POWERS Montesquieu L espirit des lois (1748) Legislature Power to make and change laws Executive (King) Power to put law into action Judiciary Power to settle disputes on applying law 21
LIMITED TASKS OF KING Powers of the king reduced Part of the executive: Appoint ministers Presents budget Article 42: The King is inviolable; the ministers are responsible. Primacy of Representative Democracy Executives need majority support of parliaments 22
TERRITORIAL BALANCE POWERS Netherlands member of the EU: important competences delegated to the EU Territorial decentralisation 12 Provinces; 390 Municipalities; 25 Water boards; etc. Subsidiarity: powers as low as possible and only as high as necessary 23
DEMOCRATIZATION Members of parliament / councils: directly elected by adult population of 18 years and older (universal voting rights) These legislatures central in democracy at all levels of governance Supplemented by Participative Democracy Consultation /Co-decision Referendums Political equality: voting and participation 24
HUMAN RIGHTS Government shall respect a free private sphere Markets freedom private enterprise Civil Society.. voluntary civic organizations Government shall respect personal freedom Separation of State & Religion! Religion = Private Life-style and sexual preferences: Also = Private Freedom of expression: Satire: OK; but not calling for violence Judge decides; not government Legal equality: same human rights for all
SOCIAL RIGHTS Fundamental Social rights: Task of government - employment; social security - clean environment; housing; - health care; education Social equality: equality of life-chances 26
Welcome in Turbulent history: many territorial changes A plural society: Religion Immigration Tolerance and respect Political authority Divided across levels Limited by constitution Equality of rights for all