ABSTRACT
This chapter deals with the relationship between the government, and civil society and social movements. It analyses to what extent the derogatorily termed 'viscous' Dutch-system provides more or less opportunities for new movements to be heard on the input side, and to what degree the relative openness affects the policies' decisiveness. The chapter substantiates the proposition that the sluggishness on the input side of a viscous state should be accepted as it creates a situation in which policy is arrived at democratically and with broad support. It illustrates how it is a misconception to assume that the civil society is to keep quiet in order for the government to rule decisively and effectively. Dutch politicians appear to be very well aware that viscosity may well at first slow down but finally accelerates political action, resulting in flexible societal-relations in which citizens experience themselves bound to a government that listens to them.
