The EU has powerful enforcement mechanisms to curb democratic backsliding and support the rule of law in its member states. While (the threat of) enforcement is necessary, sanctions might be... Show moreThe EU has powerful enforcement mechanisms to curb democratic backsliding and support the rule of law in its member states. While (the threat of) enforcement is necessary, sanctions might be difficult to accept as legitimate when they hurt a citizen's country. We study the perceived legitimacy of EU enforcement actions. We develop hypotheses about the influence of national identity, party support, procedural fairness, descriptive norm prevalence, and the likely effects of the sanctions on the future of cooperation. These hypotheses are tested with a survey experiment administered to a nationally-representative sample in Poland. The focus is on the substantial financial sanctions imposed by the EU concerning judicial independence. The results show that exclusive national identity, the perceived importance of the rule of law, support for European integration and party support are strongly associated with perceived legitimacy. Providing information about the prevalence of public support for judicial independence in the country increases significantly the perceived legitimacy of enforcement actions. We find no evidence for effects of arguments about Polexit, future deterrence effects of the sanctions or their procedural (un)fairness. EU sanctions might not lead to further backlash among the domestic public, but they are unlikely to generate public pressure for reforms. Show less
This study examines how motivational signals in job advertisements relate to public employers’ recruitment success, testing hypotheses derived from signalling theory and person – environment fit... Show moreThis study examines how motivational signals in job advertisements relate to public employers’ recruitment success, testing hypotheses derived from signalling theory and person – environment fit theory. We combine job advertisements collected via web crawling with matched survey data on the recruitment process (1,863 recruiters), capturing Germany’s public sector job market. Using quantitative text analysis, we identify motivational signals in the job advertisements and analyse to what extent they relate to indicators of recruitment success. Results show that prosocial signals positively relate to a higher quality of applications and a more qualified selected candidate. By contrast, extrinsic and intrinsic motivational signals did not exhibit statistically significant effects. Show less
The vulnerability of chemical and process facilities toward physical security attacks depends on the equipment resistance against such attacks and on the performance of Physical Protection Systems ... Show moreThe vulnerability of chemical and process facilities toward physical security attacks depends on the equipment resistance against such attacks and on the performance of Physical Protection Systems (PPS) in place. To enhance the protection against intentional attacks, the development of quantitative vulnerability metrics is essential, nevertheless current standard approaches only offer qualitative or semi-quantitative evaluations. The aim of the present work is to develop a quantitative methodology for the assessment of chemical and process facilities vulnerability towards external acts of interference. The proposed methodology is based both on the evaluation of equipment structural integrity in response to different types of specific impact vectors characterizing intentional attacks and on the quantitative performance assessment of related PPS. In particular, specific fragility models were developed for impact vectors associated with improvised explosive devices, firearms, and incendiary weapons. The novel fragility models were implemented in a comprehensive security vulnerability assessment (SVA) based on Bayesian Networks, in which the contribution of PPS performance was also considered. A case study was defined and analyzed to exemplify the application of the proposed approach. The results obtained allowed for the identification of the most critical security-related escalation scenarios and thus for an improved quantitative SVA. Show less
Kuipers, S; Perlstein, S.; Wolbers, J.; Jong, W. 2023
Communication has always been key to crisis management research, but even more so in recent years, from multiple disciplinary angles. In this bibliometric study and review of the literature, we aim... Show moreCommunication has always been key to crisis management research, but even more so in recent years, from multiple disciplinary angles. In this bibliometric study and review of the literature, we aim to identify different clusters of crisis communication research in the literature and whether and how much these crisis communication research clusters overlap. With different fields taking an interest in crisis communication, we ask ourselves where the interests of these fields overlap, and to what extent the different communities are aware of each other's work. Apart from offering an overview of topical clusters in crisis communication research and connections between those clusters of studies on crisis communication, we identify and explain two main approaches to crisis communication: a political or accusatory approach, and a functional or assistory approach. We conclude in our study and discussion that these approaches may need to broaden their research horizons to ensure the applicability of crisis communication strategies beyond the countries, media platforms, and audience orientations that have predominantly shaped the existing research landscape Show less
De afgelopen jaren werd Nederland geconfronteerd met een toename van aanslagen door de georganiseerde misdaad op objecten en personen die geen onderdeel uitmaken van criminele netwerken. Tegen deze... Show moreDe afgelopen jaren werd Nederland geconfronteerd met een toename van aanslagen door de georganiseerde misdaad op objecten en personen die geen onderdeel uitmaken van criminele netwerken. Tegen deze achtergrond wordt door politici en journalisten steeds vaker de term narcoterrorisme gebruikt. In dit artikel wordt de herkomst van deze term onderzocht en gekeken in welke mate deze past bij de situatie in Nederland met betrekking tot de georganiseerde misdaad. Daarnaast worden de voor- en nadelen benoemd van het gebruik van deze term in het maatschappelijke en wetenschappelijke debat. Tot slot reflecteren we op de politieke aandacht voor dit geweld en de impact daarvan op de democratische rechtsorde. Show less
A core idea of bureaucratic organizations is that rule-following is a necessary precondition to pursue the publicinterest. However, rules may sometimes become dysfunc-tional, burdensome, and even... Show moreA core idea of bureaucratic organizations is that rule-following is a necessary precondition to pursue the publicinterest. However, rules may sometimes become dysfunc-tional, burdensome, and even interfere with public valuedelivery. In those situations, professionals sometimesengage in prosocial rule-breaking (PSRB), rather than rule-following, with the aim to deliver meaningful public ser-vices. This article examines leadership encouragement andpsychological safety as antecedents of PSRB behavior. Datafrom two waves of a multi-source dataset consisting of pro-fessionals' self-reported PSRB behavior and psychologicalsafety (n=837 and 965 respondents) and their supervisor-reported encouragement for PSRB behavior (n=58 and64 respondents) is used. Findings point to a positive rela-tionship between psychological safety and PSRB. Moreover,the study partly supports the hypothesis that leadershipencouragement is associated with higher levels of PSRB,but only under conditions of high psychological safety. Show less
While the importance of reducing meat loss and waste is acknowledged due to its substantial environmental impacts, the aspect of animal welfare largely remains unaddressed. The suffering and death... Show moreWhile the importance of reducing meat loss and waste is acknowledged due to its substantial environmental impacts, the aspect of animal welfare largely remains unaddressed. The suffering and death that is inflicted on animals to produce food that is never eaten remains invisible. This study aims to bridge the gap between food loss and waste (FLW) accounting literature and animal welfare considerations. It achieves this by estimating the number of animal lives embodied in meat loss and waste of six major meat-producing species along the food supply chain and by modelling three potential reduction scenarios. It shows that approximately 18 billion animal lives were embodied in losses and waste of global meat production and consumption in 2019. The scenarios reveal that wasted and lost animal lives could be reduced by 7.9 billion if best regional efficiencies were mainstreamed, and by 4.2 or 8.8 billion if Sustainable Development Goal 12.3 was implemented, achieving a 50% loss and waste reduction in the downstream or whole supply chain, respectively. Considering species specific conscience and sentience, and previous recommendations, the analysis finds leverage points for change at the consumption stage in developed, high-income countries, in Industrialized Asia, judging by absolute, and in North America and Oceania, judging by per-capita numbers, as well as in top countries of FLW and animal life loss. It further identifies trade-offs for animal welfare between reducing FLW of different meat types, especially chicken and beef, and reducing production-based losses while keeping emissions and resource use low and supporting food security. Show less
Several critics have argued that private prisons are not only problematic because of their worse efects but also intrinsically wrong. This article analyzes two prominent arguments for this claim:... Show moreSeveral critics have argued that private prisons are not only problematic because of their worse efects but also intrinsically wrong. This article analyzes two prominent arguments for this claim: the representation argument and the condemnation argument. The conclusion is that these arguments fail to show that there is something intrinsically wrong about private prisons. This is especially true if the arguments are extended to non-proft private prisons under social injustice contexts that states are responsible for. In such cases, non-proft private prisons might not only be on a par with public prisons but be preferable to them. However, the arguments are also insufcient to oppose every conceivable for-proft private prison. Show less
Purpose: Immediate initiation of antiretroviral treatment following HIV infection is a cornerstone of the current HIV ‘universal test and treat’ approach. Delayed progress along the HIV care... Show morePurpose: Immediate initiation of antiretroviral treatment following HIV infection is a cornerstone of the current HIV ‘universal test and treat’ approach. Delayed progress along the HIV care continuum is thus framed as a major stumbling block in effective HIV epidemic control. Through examining the HIV care trajectories of people diagnosed with HIV in Shinyanga Region, Tanzania, we offer a critical interrogation of the HIV care continuum. Methods: Data are drawn from a social science study on the uptake of a ‘treat all’ model of HIV prevention and care conducted from 2018 to 2019. Methods included interviews with participants who tested positive (n = 30) and interviews (n = 25) with health staff involved in the testing campaigns.Findings: Exploring individuals’ care trajectories, we found that most participants followed pathways to care that do not easily align with the current emphasis on rapid, linear progress from testing to treatment initiation. Instead, participants’ trajectories from diagnosis to treatment happened on a different, non-linear time scale mediated through social relations and diverse communities of care. We thus conceptualize five pathways of linkage to care - virtuous/immediate, delayed testing, repeat testing, negotiated, and ‘failed’.Conclusion: Based on our findings we propose a community-centered HIV care continuum that exposes moments of potential connection with or rupture from the health system and centers the importance of social support structures and forms of relational labor involving broader communities of care. Show less
Krupnik, S.; Szczucka, A.; Wozniak, M.; Pattyn, V.E. 2023
Qualitative comparative analysis is gradually becoming more established in the evaluation field. The purpose of this article is to highlight the potential for evaluation research of engaging in... Show moreQualitative comparative analysis is gradually becoming more established in the evaluation field. The purpose of this article is to highlight the potential for evaluation research of engaging in consecutive rounds of this analysis. This is possible when approaching qualitative comparative analysis as a systematic strategy for configurational theorizing. To substantiate this potential, we present two evaluation studies on Research and Development subsidies for companies in Poland. Compared with the results of the first study, the findings of the subsequent consecutive qualitative comparative analysis studies were much more nuanced and helped in developing a full-fledged configurational program theory. In addition to elaborating on the strengths of a consecutive qualitative comparative analysis approach and the relevance of configurational program theories for evaluators, this article shares the main lessons learned in overcoming challenges common to such designs. Thus, concrete guidance is offered to researchers and evaluators who are willing to take configurational theorizing seriously. Show less
While discourse about the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) has primarily focused on 'whether the goals' are achieved, there remains limited understanding of how developed countries organize... Show moreWhile discourse about the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) has primarily focused on 'whether the goals' are achieved, there remains limited understanding of how developed countries organize their monitoring and evaluation (M & E) systems, which play a crucial role in tracking progress towards the SDGs. In this contribution, we unpack the M & E frameworks of Belgium, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom. To do so, we have devised an analytical heuristic that combines insights from the literature on policy performance measurement and measurement infrastructures with the more specific literature on SDG governance. Through document analysis and elite interviews conducted in 2021, our findings highlight similarity in underdeveloped M & E frameworks, rather than significant variation across the three case studies. The results do not suggest a linkage between SDG performance and the development of M & E frameworks. Show less
Administrative burdens appear to influence citizens' perceptions of welfare policies and attitudes toward beneficiaries. However, empirical evidence that has disentangled different state actions'... Show moreAdministrative burdens appear to influence citizens' perceptions of welfare policies and attitudes toward beneficiaries. However, empirical evidence that has disentangled different state actions' effects on policy perceptions is scarce. We applied a 2 × 2 × 2 factorial survey experiment and manipulated the conceptually distinct state actions implemented in German unemployment benefits. We investigated whether and how exposure to learning demands, compliance demands, and sanctions affected citizens' prejudices against beneficiaries, policy support, and perceived legitimacy. The results from a sample of 1602 German citizens indicate that those confronted with program sanctions exhibit less policy support and expect higher policy spending. Similarly, sanctions decreased the Federal Employment Agency's perceived legitimacy. These results have implications for administrative burden and policy feedback research. Distinguishing different state actions provides nuances to assess policy feedback effects. Practitioners should consider whether program sanctions are necessary because they evoke unintended policy feedback effects. Show less
Previous studies have identified individual and organizational factors that influence the turnover intentions of bureaucrats. However, they have overlooked how the type of national bureaucracy... Show morePrevious studies have identified individual and organizational factors that influence the turnover intentions of bureaucrats. However, they have overlooked how the type of national bureaucracy influences turnover intention. Combining data sets on macro-level bureaucratic structures and individual civil servants, we examine how bureaucratic politicization and closedness are associated with the turnover intentions of bureaucrats in 36 countries. Our analysis indicates that there is large cross-national variation in turnover intention, and that bureaucratic structures matter as one of the predictors of turnover intention. Public servants working in more closed and regulated bureaucracies exhibit lower turnover intention. We also find that public servants working in more politicized bureaucracies (in which personnel decisions are made via political connections) have lower turnover intention than those working in more merit-based systems. Such low turnover intention in politicized bureaucracies may be explained by the characteristics of patronage appointments in which public jobs are distributed based on personal or political loyalty. Show less
The ubiquity of experts in contemporary policy-making has been met with enthusiasm in some quarters, but has also faced severe criticism. Beyond the democratic concerns regarding expert power,... Show moreThe ubiquity of experts in contemporary policy-making has been met with enthusiasm in some quarters, but has also faced severe criticism. Beyond the democratic concerns regarding expert power, critics have raised worries about whether experts actually contribute to increasing the epistemic quality of policies, in line with normative expectations. Yet, so far, limited attention has been paid to the specific conditions under which experts involved in policy-making are likely to live up to such expectations. The article outlines a set of such conditions and empirically examines their fulfillment in the case of a real-world expert body. The article contributes theoretically to normative political theory about the proper role of expertise in policy-making; methodologically by linking normative theorizing and empirical analysis; and empirically through a longitudinal analysis based on large-n data of the extent to which the expert body under scrutiny satisfies a set of quantifiable empirical indicators of the proposed conditions. Show less
