Building Bridges Across Frames

A Meta-Evaluation of Dutch Integration Policy

Bibliographic Data

ID6296171
AuthorsPeter Scholten (0000-0001-5745-9531, University of Twente), P W A Scholten, Frans K M Van Nispen (Erasmus University Rotterdam)
Year2008
Volume28
Issue2
Pages181-205
Publication date2008-08-01
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueJournal of Public Policy (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0143-814X • E-ISSN: 1469-7815
PublisherCambridge University Press (CUP) (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1017/s0143814x08000846
OpenAlexW2115336318
LanguageEN
Citations received9
References cited12

The integration of immigrants is an intractable policy controversy in Dutch politics: the Blok Committee was established by Parliament to offer a resolution. However, its evaluation study ‘Building Bridges’, itself became controversial. This paper asks: Why did the policy evaluation of the Blok Committee become so fiercely contested? We argue that the debate on immigrant integration can be characterized by frame-conflict: there were fundamental differences in how immigrant integration was defined and normatively interpreted by actors. The resolution of such ill-structured problems requires the critical articulation of multiple and conflicting frames. In situations of intractable policy controversies, policy evaluation should reach beyond mere technical and contextual levels to include systemic and ideological discourse. Policy evaluation can thereby focus more on utilization and contribute to the resolution of intractable policy controversies by building bridges among conflicting frames

Computer Science · Evaluation and Performance Assessment · Policy Transfer and Learning

Tools

Open DOISci-HubOpen Access