ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses how European integration has impacted these features of consensus politics in the Low Countries. It shows that the Low Countries have a tradition of consensus-seeking coalition governance. Over time, however, this tradition has come under increasing pressure due to electoral volatility, harsher competition, and rising mistrust between parties. The chapter considers the possible ways in which the process of European integration has impacted on the features of consensus politics in coalition governments, which identified and discussed for the pre-1990 period. It analysis developments since 1990 and consider the four propositions on the influence that Europeanization has had on coalition government size, the formation process, coalition agreements, and hierarchy within cabinet. According to Lijphart the occurrence and duration of power-sharing cabinets is the key feature that distinguishes consensus democracies from majoritarian systems. Another indicator of consensus and power-sharing is the relatively low emphasis on hierarchy within cabinets.
