Fatal remedies. How dealing with policy conflict can backfire in a context of trust-erosion

Eva Wolf and Wouter Van Dooren
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Wouter Van Dooren: University of Antwerp

No z5uxy, SocArXiv from Center for Open Science

Abstract: This article investigates the relationship between policy conflict and trust-erosion. It concludes that in a context of trust-erosion, practices to deal with conflict may backfire and lead to further conflict escalation. The article draws on an in-depth analysis of 32 interviews with key actors in the conflict over a contested multibillion-euro highway project in Antwerp (Belgium). It concludes that while all actors draw on the policy repertoire of “managing public support” to explain the conflict, their perspectives of what it means for a policy to have public support differ. Practices to “manage public support” that made sense from one perspective, contributed to the erosion of trust from those holding a different perspective, thus further escalating the conflict. Practices intended to end conflict proved to be fatal remedies.

Date: 2021-08-14
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-isf, nep-ppm and nep-soc
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:osf:socarx:z5uxy

DOI: 10.31219/osf.io/z5uxy

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