Conditions and outcomes of policy learning during deliberations among political elites: An analysis of the municipal councils and councilors in the Brussels-Capital Region Thematic analysis

What are the conditions and outcomes of policy learning in the context of formal democratic deliberations among political elites? To address this research question methodologically, a two-step approach was implemented: 17 semi-structured interviews were conducted with municipal council’s presidents (i.e., elected officials) and secretaries (i.e. civil servants) in the Belgian Region of Brussels-Capital. The data were thematically analyzed (Paillé & Mucchielli, 2016). our findings showed that 18 factors account for the acquisition of knowledge and opinion changes (i.e., policy learning) on three levels, namely: the macro level, which represents the general environment in which the municipal councils operate (9 factors); the meso level, which refers to the interpersonal relations among councilors (4 factors); and the micro level, which represents the factors at the individual level (5 factors). For example, the political and legal experience of councilors, the cordiality and empathy among them, and the partisanship to a regional or national political family have been mentioned as important determinants of collaborative policy learning among municipal councilors. Understanding and taking these factors into consideration may help to develop more collaborative and constructive deliberative environment within municipal councils, in particular, and deliberative settings, in general. We conclude with some implications and an agenda for future research.