Organizing for Societal Security and Crisis Management in Germany, The Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and the UK

Abstract

The chapter addresses government arrangements for societal security and crisis management in Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and the UK. It gives an overview of organizational arrangements in central government, describes central changes since 11 September 2001 and outlines the motivations for change. The chapter reveals a fragmented, complex and varied administrative landscape characterized by sectorization and decentralization. There is a drive towards increased focus on coordination and centralization over time but there is no convergence towards one unified model across countries. Major crises are major triggers for changes in the administrative apparatus. Over time, the ‘hybridity’ have increased due to the emergence of more network arrangements. It is a layered system in which new arrangements are added to the existing through incremental and pragmatic reforms.