In our recently started multiple case study - funded by the Netherlands Scientific Board (NWO) - on these processes of collaboration, we focused on the dynamics in growing partnerships between citizens, community social workers and civil servants. Three cases of social neighbourhood initiatives are presented …

Vanzelfsprekend is het realiseren van maatschappelijke innovatie in buurten moeizaam: nieuwe initiatieven schuren niet alleen met bestaande gewoonten en gebruiken, maar ook soms met regels en culturen. De confrontatie tussen het ambititeuze burgerinitiatief en de vaak minnetjes reagerende overheid is …

On one thing most scholars of the impact of music agree: music is an incredibly powerful (emotional) force (Garofalo, 2010). However, its force can be used to achieve highly disparate goals.

As the state retracts further in the Netherlands, the role of civil society increases. Only now the impact becomes visible due to changing arrangements in the social domain. Since enormous cuts in the welfare budgets have been implemented; creative innovations by civil initiatives are much needed to …