De effectiviteit van de overheid: een cybernetische bijdrage aan de professionalisering van de beleidsfunctie

This thesis deals with governmental effectiveness. Against a backdrop of a ceaseless stream of difficult-to-solve issues, decreasing legitimacy of the Government, the need for massive budget cuts and a long history of not very successful government reforms, the theme of this thesis is a topical one. It is in our well-ordered society not difficult to overlook the structural role of the Government. But that is not right. A well-functioning Government is still needed. However, as a result of an increased complexity of social functioning, the effectiveness of government intervention is no longer self-evident. Due to the increasing complexity in society the need for government action increases, but at the same time the possibilities due to the same increasing complexity decreases.

This PhD research is an exploration into the possibilities to improve systematically governmental effectiveness through professionalization of the policy function. Public policy – as has been argued in this study – should focus on solving those problems which can’t be solved through social self-organization.[2] The research aim is to provide a methodological framework for effectively coping with complex social problems.

The results of the study are intended for practice and science. The intended practice contribution lies in providing a theoretical 'basis' for a professionalized and intervention-oriented policy methodology. The intended scientific contribution is particularly located in the development, application and testing of a methodology for constructing social-theory. The methodology is constructed in a praxeological manner, that is: from a non-proven axiom the theory is developed in a string of logical steps. The chosen axiom is that all knowledge comes from making distinction.