Rising towards new leadership: Comparative case study on leadership in flood risk management after the floods of 2021

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2023-08-02

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en

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In the summer of 2021 Western Europe was hit by one of the largest natural disasters in a long time; floods. Especially Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands were hit hard by the floods. It caused billions of euros in damages and killed over 240 people. But, how did these nation states respond to the floods? This research shows this by answering the following question: "To what extent and how did the transnational floods of 2021 change the leadership roles of Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands in European flood risk management?” (Belgium is divided into Wallonia and Flanders). This is done by combining the aspects of shock events, framing and leadership via interviews, content analysis and media analysis. The event was seen as unique, but also made clear that changes are needed because of the increased risk due to climate change. Although the event is quite recent, changes are already in progress. Wallonia changed its leadership role in the leader-laggard paradigm, all other states saw changes within their respective roles. All four states also changed, in different capacities, their policy arrangement approach. Thus, shock events, like the floods of 2021, have an impact on the leadership role a nation state displays.

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Faculteit der Managementwetenschappen