The Use and Development of the Term Dutch Approach

Abstract

This study further looks into the phenomenon Dutch approach. The term has repeatedly been used in Dutch and international media, the Dutch political arena and in academics. A historiographical debate about the existence of a specific Dutch approach has been going on for a decade, yet no final solution to it has been found. Despite its questionable nature, the term kept on being used in a variety of fields. Hence, this study does not attempt to contribute to the debate as to whether a Dutch approach actually exists or is a myth, but will rather look into how this controversial term came into being and developed since its first use. This study specifically aims to highlight which ideas and thoughts behind the use of the term in different contexts might have been vital. Therefore, concepts of the IR theory of Social Constructivism will be used as a tool to outline its development. Three different contexts in which the term was used will be scrutinised by means of using these tools. The first context relates to the Moluccan acts of terrorism in the 1970’s, to which the term Dutch approach became linked in its first use. The second timeframe will focus on the development of the term Dutch approach during the Dutch contribution to SFIR in Iraq, and the last timeframe zooms in on the use and development of the term during the Dutch ISAF contribution to Uruzgan. Finally, it will be concluded that the term Dutch approach developed both within each timeframe and throughout these timeframes, and appears to be developing as we speak. Furthermore, it will be noted that the term increasingly became used as a tool to influence thoughts and ideas of others about a Dutch way of handling military missions far from home.