Partying and Cocooning? No Paradox for Mayoral Recruitment in Belgium

Authors

  • Kristof Steyvers Lecturer, Centre for Local Politics, Department of Political Science, Ghent University, Belgium
  • Herwig Reynaert Lecturer, Centre for Local Politics, Department of Political Science, Ghent University, Belgium
  • Thomas Block
  • Tom Verhelst

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.4335/8.3.203-226(2010)

Abstract

This paper studies the role of partisanship in the road to the Belgian mayoralty. It confirms the expectation that most mayors have quite extensive party records prior to coming to office. Although different degrees of partisanship are thus relative, they tend to sort both internal and external effects. Mayors with a highly partisan background give a more active interpretation of their initial recruitment and get a head start in their political career. They also more frequently come from families that are deeply engaged in politics. In addition, they combine their own partisan experience with additional recruitment apprenticeships. Having held a function in a party and having experienced extensive party support make mayoral orientations more partisan in terms of task importance and exchange of views with party leaders. KEYWORDS: • local government • mayor • mayoral recruitment • local party system • Belgium

Author Biographies

  • Centre for Local Politics, Department of Political Science, Ghent University, Belgium
  • Centre for Local Politics, Department of Political Science, Ghent University, Belgium
  • Centre for Local Politics, Department of Political Science, Ghent University, Belgium
  • Centre for Local Politics, Department of Political Science, Ghent University, Belgium

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Published

2010-07-31

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