Diversity, Unique, and Balance Based on Participation:Three Dutch Characteristics We May Want to Learn

Last night in the graduate dinner, I raised three questions to my classmate’s uncle, who just retired from Dutch government. Below is the content of our talk.

 Wen (W):

First, Dutch people are well-known in the area of international trade. People think they are natural businessmen. While, at the same time, the Netherlands is also the second biggest agriculture exporting country in the world. How can you make it? It seems that the way to develop trade and the way to farm is significantly different.

 The Classmate’s Uncil (U)

The answer is diversity. Different groups highly respect each other. Diversity is a very important mark in Dutch society.

 W:

Subsequently, since you mention diversity. As the parents, do you respect your children’s career choice? Or, inevitably, you would like to influence their choices. I think it is a good test.

U:

You need to realize that, in Dutch society, we believe everyone is unique. Since we deeply believe that each one is extremely unique. I would not influence my child’s career choice.

W:
As a former regulator, you are familiar with the ones you regulate. Since diversity is so important for Dutch society, it seems that your society believes market function more than regulation. Market is an appropriate forum for people to choose what they want. Conversely, regulations tend to limit people’s choices.

U:
Well, it is important to make a balance between regulation and market. Yes, balance is an important mark for Dutch society. Through participation democracy, we keep meeting and meeting, in order to find a balance, a consensus, and sometimes a compromise among the diversified interests and groups. Indeed, it is sometimes inefficient. But it is the way we want to do. We think diversify, uniqueness, are so important. We would like to seek consensus among them, and it would take longer time.

Hereafter is my comment. I think that is what we Taiwanese need to learn from Dutch. Democracy is not merely a scheme, but based on individual respect and pragmatic consensus through full participation.