Conflict and Consensus in Committees

Conflict and Consensus in Committees Erik Damgaard and Ingvar Mattson

Introduction

Alongside perfonning several functions for their members, parliamentary parties and the whole parliament (Mattson and Strgm 1995), parliamentary committees are often considered to be vital co-operative structures. Fostering a communitarian atmosphere among members, committees may be conducive to frequent negotiations, accommodation and agreement. A 'face-to-face' decision-making forum can serve to promote unitary and integrated policy communities within parliaments. As such, a committee can function as an arena where conflict is resolved through a compromise (Mattson 1996: p.61).