The Dialogue as Basis for Democratic Governance

Compared to the Northern American discourse on drugs, the Dutch way of talking about drugs seems bizarre. This clear cut difference makes drugs a good example for discussing discourse theory. Two Dutch cases on drug policy show that even decision-making processes concerning not-in-my-backyard (NIMBY) facilities may be organized by means of an open dialogue. Also other groups in society than (local) government actors may recognize the necessity of certainfacilitiesfor drug users. In addition, these groups may well be capable of helping to find a proper locality to set up these facilities. One of the most important conditions for these groups to want to join the decision-making process is, however; that (local) government actors do not set the boundaries of the dialogue in advance. Instead, it should be recognized that these boundaries, concerning what can be said, who may talk, and how to discuss matters, will develop in dialogue.