PoliSci Professor Argues for Kingdom Parliament
October 31, 2024
Political science professor and researcher Wouter Veenendaal argued for a Kingdom Parliament with representation from Curacao, Aruba and St. Maarten to improve democracy within the Dutch Kingdom.
Veenendaal was speaking at a lecture at University of St. Martin (USM) Tuesday where he asserted that the solution to the democratic deficit in between the Netherlands and Dutch Caribbean would be to either expand the existing parliament or committing seats in the parliament specifically to the three Caribbean islands that are autonomous entities within the Kingdom. He pointed to Denmark and its outlier islands as a successful example of a mainland European state with territories outside the continent governed by a shared parliamentary structure, which features representatives from each territory serving in the legislature. Veenendaal is a researcher from Leiden University in the Netherlands who has studied politics, election participation and democracy around the world and including in former Dutch territories.
Residents who work in law, government, education and other sectors attended the session with Veenendaal, who pointed at advantages in smaller localities around the world having a higher likelihood of democratic participation – though with caveats. Veenendaal said the research showed that smaller territories tend to have direct interactions with members of the electorate and their representatives, which allow more immediate impact but that also create opportunities for undue influence of bad actors within government institutions. Veenendaal also pointed to the role of wealthy power brokers in swaying elections and harming the impact of democracy.
Veenendaal identified the existing challenges of the Dutch Kingdom including the unequal perspective of residents in the Netherlands and in the Caribbean of their shared role in providing equitable, fair solutions for the entire structure. He also aimed at the existing structure wherein the Kingdom is governed from the Netherlands’ capital of The Hague with little influence from Curacao, Aruba and St. Maarten besides their ministers plenipotentiary, who are appointed representatives of the respective governments who lobby on behalf of the islands.
Veenendaal suggested that a direct vote for Dutch residents in the Caribbean part of the Kingdom would improve democracy through the structure but noted that this position has flaws including the difficulty for island representatives to reach the 70,000-vote threshold to secure seats in the parliament and the struggle to have candidates who better represent the islands and can support the populations from The Hague.
Professor Veenendaal is one of two academics assigned a Chair in Kingdom Relations, sponsored by the Dutch Ministry of Interior and Kingdom Relations BZK. The other chair is reserved for former USM President Dr. Francio Guadeloupe, who will conduct research on the islands from an anthropological perspective. Together with current USM President, Professor doctor Antonio Carmona Báez, Veenendaal will hire an assistant researcher on Sint Maarten.
This lecture was part of USM’s 35th anniversary lecture series, which featured renowned and globally informed speakers about political equity, law, human and civil rights and climate change. USM remains committed to offering such public sessions aimed at benefiting residents across the island. For more information about USM, its research and its degree and continuing education programs, please visit www.usm.sx or call 542-5171.
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Residents who work in law, government, education and other sectors attended the session with Veenendaal, who pointed at advantages in smaller localities around the world having a higher likelihood of democratic participation – though with caveats. Veenendaal said the research showed that smaller territories tend to have direct interactions with members of the electorate and their representatives, which allow more immediate impact but that also create opportunities for undue influence of bad actors within government institutions. Veenendaal also pointed to the role of wealthy power brokers in swaying elections and harming the impact of democracy.
Veenendaal identified the existing challenges of the Dutch Kingdom including the unequal perspective of residents in the Netherlands and in the Caribbean of their shared role in providing equitable, fair solutions for the entire structure. He also aimed at the existing structure wherein the Kingdom is governed from the Netherlands’ capital of The Hague with little influence from Curacao, Aruba and St. Maarten besides their ministers plenipotentiary, who are appointed representatives of the respective governments who lobby on behalf of the islands.
Veenendaal suggested that a direct vote for Dutch residents in the Caribbean part of the Kingdom would improve democracy through the structure but noted that this position has flaws including the difficulty for island representatives to reach the 70,000-vote threshold to secure seats in the parliament and the struggle to have candidates who better represent the islands and can support the populations from The Hague.
Professor Veenendaal is one of two academics assigned a Chair in Kingdom Relations, sponsored by the Dutch Ministry of Interior and Kingdom Relations BZK. The other chair is reserved for former USM President Dr. Francio Guadeloupe, who will conduct research on the islands from an anthropological perspective. Together with current USM President, Professor doctor Antonio Carmona Báez, Veenendaal will hire an assistant researcher on Sint Maarten.
This lecture was part of USM’s 35th anniversary lecture series, which featured renowned and globally informed speakers about political equity, law, human and civil rights and climate change. USM remains committed to offering such public sessions aimed at benefiting residents across the island. For more information about USM, its research and its degree and continuing education programs, please visit www.usm.sx or call 542-5171.
Latest News →
