Mar 24, 2021
In The Origins of Political Order (2011), Fukuyama described the problem of creating modern political institutions as one of “getting to Denmark”. The country, in his own words at the time, was “a mythical place known for its stable, democratic, peaceful, prosperous and inclusive institutions”. A few miles south of Denmark lie the Netherlands, a country that last week renewed Mark Rutte’s mandate to lead a coalition, from a somewhat reshuffled Parliament this time. Our two guests this week highlight a gradual shift in the core of Dutch politics towards a blend of fiscal hawkishness, moderate Euroscepticism and even a less liberal social policy than the Dutch norm. No other country, however, seems to have journeyed further into the proverbial Third Way and the technocratization of vast swathes of government policy. Simon Kuper (Financial Times) and Rem Korteweg (Clingendael Institute) walk us through the Fukuyamaesque clichés borne out in last week's race, whilst giving due warning that not everything is as may rosily seem in the Dutch Low Countries.
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