Het spel der overtuiging: Argumentatie over en legitimatie van het natuurbeleid bij ganzenbeheer en bomenkap

This report investigates how Dutch nature policy obtains legitimacy. It specifically focuses on the role of the ‘substance’ of the argumentation and on the role of the communication and manifestation ‘form’ of the argumentation. Legitimacy cannot be established objectively, but is granted by society. Conflicts arise because there are differing views about what nature is. Through a dramaturgical analysis of two cases – goose management in the Hoekse Waard area south of Rotterdam and tree felling in the municipality of Schoorl – we investigate the part played by the communication form and substance of the arguments, and how they relate to legal, democratic and social forms of legitimacy. The combination of substance and form proved to be crucial, with assertive and defensive strategies having different effects on conflicts and the trust of those involved. An important lesson is that attention to the form of communication reinforces the persuasiveness of the substance and that pursuing multiple strategies fosters broad legitimacy.