Metatabeleid

Metatabeleid is a term used in some Dutch-language policy studies to refer to a meta-level framework that governs how policies are created, implemented, evaluated, and revised, rather than addressing a specific policy domain such as health, education, or the economy. It concentrates on the processes and rules that shape policy-making itself.

The word combines meta-, indicating “about itself” or “at a higher level,” with beleid, policy. In practice, metatabeleid focuses on the procedures, principles, and structures that influence how policy decisions are made, how evidence is used, and how learning from experience is integrated into future work.

Common components include transparency about decision criteria and data sources, accountability mechanisms, stakeholder participation, coherence across sectors, robust evaluation and learning loops, and adaptable governance that can adjust policies in response to new evidence. It also encompasses data governance, impact assessment practices, and oversight arrangements to ensure that policy processes remain fair and effective.

The aim is to improve policy quality and coherence, reduce fragmentation across government areas, and ensure that policy-making aligns with overarching legal and strategic goals. It seeks to create predictable, legitimate processes that enable timely, evidence-based responses to changing circumstances.

Implementation may entail guidelines for policy development, standardized evaluation frameworks, public consultations, data governance rules, and independent oversight bodies that monitor compliance with metatabeleid principles. Critics argue that metatabeleid can become overly abstract or bureaucratic if not grounded in democratic legitimacy and practical relevance.