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Resistor or meta-governor? Role conceptions of local elected representatives in participatory trajectories

Nina De Smedt (UGent) , Willem Goutry (UGent) , Kristof Steyvers (UGent) and Bram Wauters (UGent)
(2025) ADMINISTRATION & SOCIETY. 57(5). p.695-726
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Abstract
The increasing use of participatory arrangements in local governance challenges the position and role of elected politicians. This article examines how local elected politicians think they should behave in such a shifting environment. It assembles images and sets of roles blending existing theoretical approaches. We test these conceptions empirically in a survey of local elected politicians in Flanders (Belgium). Our results show that representatives identify with a variety of images. They thus tend to endorse a broad range of roles in participatory governance. Ultimately, we end up with two main comprehensive and integrated sets: “meta-governor” and “resistor.” Variations in these sets can partially be explained by the position of politicians and their ideological convictions.
Keywords
citizen participation, elected politicians, local democracy, role, conceptions, POLITICIANS, DEMOCRACY, INITIATIVES, LEADERSHIP, COUNCILLORS, CITIZENS, BEHAVIOR

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MLA
De Smedt, Nina, et al. “Resistor or Meta-Governor? Role Conceptions of Local Elected Representatives in Participatory Trajectories.” ADMINISTRATION & SOCIETY, vol. 57, no. 5, 2025, pp. 695–726, doi:10.1177/00953997251328678.
APA
De Smedt, N., Goutry, W., Steyvers, K., & Wauters, B. (2025). Resistor or meta-governor? Role conceptions of local elected representatives in participatory trajectories. ADMINISTRATION & SOCIETY, 57(5), 695–726. https://doi.org/10.1177/00953997251328678
Chicago author-date
De Smedt, Nina, Willem Goutry, Kristof Steyvers, and Bram Wauters. 2025. “Resistor or Meta-Governor? Role Conceptions of Local Elected Representatives in Participatory Trajectories.” ADMINISTRATION & SOCIETY 57 (5): 695–726. https://doi.org/10.1177/00953997251328678.
Chicago author-date (all authors)
De Smedt, Nina, Willem Goutry, Kristof Steyvers, and Bram Wauters. 2025. “Resistor or Meta-Governor? Role Conceptions of Local Elected Representatives in Participatory Trajectories.” ADMINISTRATION & SOCIETY 57 (5): 695–726. doi:10.1177/00953997251328678.
Vancouver
1.
De Smedt N, Goutry W, Steyvers K, Wauters B. Resistor or meta-governor? Role conceptions of local elected representatives in participatory trajectories. ADMINISTRATION & SOCIETY. 2025;57(5):695–726.
IEEE
[1]
N. De Smedt, W. Goutry, K. Steyvers, and B. Wauters, “Resistor or meta-governor? Role conceptions of local elected representatives in participatory trajectories,” ADMINISTRATION & SOCIETY, vol. 57, no. 5, pp. 695–726, 2025.
@article{01JQPYNHVJJKD2MHNWGVFCY1Z5,
  abstract     = {{The increasing use of participatory arrangements in local governance challenges the position and role of elected politicians. This article examines how local elected politicians think they should behave in such a shifting environment. It assembles images and sets of roles blending existing theoretical approaches. We test these conceptions empirically in a survey of local elected politicians in Flanders (Belgium). Our results show that representatives identify with a variety of images. They thus tend to endorse a broad range of roles in participatory governance. Ultimately, we end up with two main comprehensive and integrated sets: “meta-governor” and “resistor.” Variations in these sets can partially be explained by the position of politicians and their ideological convictions.}},
  author       = {{De Smedt, Nina and Goutry, Willem and Steyvers, Kristof and Wauters, Bram}},
  issn         = {{0095-3997}},
  journal      = {{ADMINISTRATION & SOCIETY}},
  keywords     = {{citizen participation,elected politicians,local democracy,role,conceptions,POLITICIANS,DEMOCRACY,INITIATIVES,LEADERSHIP,COUNCILLORS,CITIZENS,BEHAVIOR}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{5}},
  pages        = {{695--726}},
  title        = {{Resistor or meta-governor? Role conceptions of local elected representatives in participatory trajectories}},
  url          = {{http://doi.org/10.1177/00953997251328678}},
  volume       = {{57}},
  year         = {{2025}},
}
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