ABSTRACT
This chapter offers a comparison of the governance figurations in Amsterdam and Rotterdam. Whereas Amsterdam’s governance figuration was volatile and skewed, Rotterdam’s governance figuration was balanced and stable. This chapter’s main argument is that these differences in the structure of governance figurations affected the intensity and nature of civil engagement. It argues that Rotterdam’s governance figuration more effectively fostered civil engagement in the sense that it produced more constructive relations among different types of associations, worked against extremism, promoted participation in civil society associations and increased electoral participation.
