Mayors in governance: Heading for efficiency and democracy? The Belgian case

Abstract

Abstract In many countries local government is perceived to be shifting towards local governance. This article tries to link three dimensions of governance using data from the Belgian context. While New Public Management tries to improve the efficiency of government, more direct and issue-specific forms of citizen involvement aim at democratic renewal. Strengthening the executive puts leaders in a pivotal position in dealing with the former both in evaluative and deliberative terms. Our evidence for Belgian mayors shows a somewhat conservative attitude towards the studied dimensions of governance. Redefining their role in a strategic direction might provoke a perceived loss of power in an environment only hesitantly adapting to governance. The balance between NPM and democratic renewal is less clear-cut in mayoral belief systems. Different factors seem to explain attitudes on both dimensions.