"Policy Integration in the Western Scheldt The barriers and opportunities to policy integration of alternating polders"
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2026-03-12
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en
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This thesis aims to analyse policy integration of alternating polders into flood risk management policies in the Western Scheldt, a complex estuarine system facing ecological degradation due to economic and infrastructural activities. It adapts frameworks that stem from biodiversity policy integration to assess the degree of policy integration as well as the barriers and opportunities for policy integration, while also taking account of the potential influence of various structural conditions. This study employs a constructivist approach. The research methodologies used include document analysis, semi-structured interviews, and participant observation. The findings indicate that while alternating polders are increasingly discussed and considered as a long-term flood-risk management solution, they have not been well-integrated into flood-risk policies as of yet. Their integration is largely strained by discursive barriers around depoldering, programmatic constraints and low capacity for their implementation. However, the increasing recognition of the limits of traditional dike-reinforcement methods, growing awareness of nature-based solutions and governance processes such as joint-planning initiatives provide opportunities for the integration of alternating polders. The study concludes that advancing policy integration requires greater stakeholder engagement and knowledge development, and institutional alignment of objectives and capacity to reconcile safety, ecological, and socio-economic objectives in the Western Scheldt.
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Faculteit der Managementwetenschappen