Easton’s systems analysis en het Nederlandse politieke systeem

Abstract

In A Systems Analysis of Political Life (ISIew York etc. 1965) David Easton proposed a theoretical framework applicable to the analysis of all political systems. The expedience of his approach can only be tested after further elaboration of this framework and the application to empirical data. i In an attempt to give operational meaning to the concepts and variables suggested by Easton, various difficulties are encountered; some of them caused by shortcomings of the analytical framework itself, others resulting from the lack of empirical data which could be used in the operationalization of the Eastonian variables. This led to a number of critical remarks on various aspects of A Systems Analysts, followed by a report on a first tentative application of the analytical framework in an analysis of the political system of the Netherlands. It is shown that the framework has not yet developed into a logical and coherent theory. Nevertheless, it enables us to look at political systems in their entirety and in their interactions with the environment. Moreover, it seems possible to improve the framework in a number of ways. At present it is still impossible to make a satisfactory systems analysis of the political system of the Netherlands. However, a number of promising avenues for further research are suggested. By way of improvisation, existing time-series were used to trace recent trends in the development of demands, support and stresses. This suggests the existence of the interrelationships postulated by Easton. It is to be expected that further work on both the ’Eastonian framework’ and empirical research along the lines suggested by this framework will increase our theoretical insight as well as our factual knowledge of political reality in the Netherlands.