Geert Wilders speaks out

Geert Wilders has dominated the political debate in the Netherlands for several years. His opponents from the centre seem unable to get a grip on him. In this essay, Hans de Bruijn analyses the way in which Wilders conducts the debate. He discusses the frames used by Wilders and shows how ingenious they are. Opponents who are tempted to step into Wilders frames are immediately at a disadvantage. If an opponent confronts you with a strong frame, you need a reframing strategy. This involves developing alternative frames that place your opponent at a disadvantage. This essay is not about who is right or wrong but about the political game of framing and reframing. The author presents several reframing exercises that may help readers to understand or participate in the current debate or encourage them to develop their own reframing strategies. Hans de Bruijn is Professor of Public Administration at the Delft University of Technology.