General Yet Unequal Substantive Representation in the Netherlands

This chapter reviews substantive representation in Dutch politics—that is, the link between public preferences and political outcomes. It describes how scholars have used a range of measures and approaches to operationalize this relationship. Studies of ideological congruence show relatively high levels of overlap between mass- and elite-level attitudes, although representatives tend to be more economically right wing and culturally left wing than the general electorate. In a similar vein, studies of responsiveness reveal that public policy responds to public opinion, albeit more so to the preferences of richer and academically trained citizens. Several mechanisms have been proposed to explain these patterns of general yet unequal representation, including a lack of descriptive representation, differences in participation, and government composition. The chapter closes by highlighting some priorities for a future research agenda on these matters.