Het spel der legitimiteiten : sturingsmogelijkheden voor maatschappelijke legitimiteit van natuurbeleid

This study examines the democratic, legal and social legitimacy of nature policy, with an emphasis on social legitimacy, the most dynamic and intangible of the three. Besides a literature study, several interviews were held with strategic public officials (politicians and government officers). These revealed points for consideration by public officials and those implementing nature policy: the interplay between democratic, legal and social legitimacy means that all three forms of legitimacy must be addressed in a timely and balanced manner. Public officials and implementers need competencies to recognise and acknowledge the human dimension of the debate at an early stage, and also to engage with people on legitimacy issues during all phases of the policy process and devote attention to the often ignored social or substantive middle viewpoints instead of the extreme viewpoints.