Introduction

In September 2011 Emmy Bergsma has joined the UvA Department of Political Science as a PhD candidate within the programme group Challenges to Democratic Representation. Her PhD research involves a theoretical-historical analysis of the (co-)evolution of the concepts 'meritocracy' and 'democracy' as well as an empirical analysis of the implications of both political ideals in the practice. This empirical component focuses on flood risk management. It entails a comparison between American and Dutch flood risk regulation, and specifically looks at the relation between experts and democratic accountability in decision-making practices.

Before starting her PhD, Emmy Bergsma has worked for four years as a researcher at the Institute for Environmental Studies, VU University Amsterdam. She has obtained her Masters degree in Human Geography in 2007 at the University of Amsterdam.

Journal articles

Maria Nijnik & Albert Nijnik & Emmy Bergsma & Robin Matthews (2013) Heterogeneity of experts’ opinion regarding opportunities and challenges of tackling deforestation in the tropics: a Q methodology application. Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Global Change. DOI 10.1007/s11027-013-9529-0.

Bergsma, E., J. Gupta and P. Jong (2012) Does individual responsibility increase the adaptive capacity of society? The case of local water management in the Netherlands. Resources, Conservation and Recycling , 64: 13-22.

Gupta, J., K. Termeer, J. Klostermann, S. Meijerink, M. van den Brink, P. Jong, S. Nooteboom and E. Bergsma (2010) Institutions for Climate Change: A Method to Assess the Inherent Characteristics of Institutions to Enable the Adaptive Capacity of Society. Environmental Science and Policy , 13: 459-471.

Klostermann, J., P. Jong, J. Gupta R. Biesbroek and E. Bergsma (2010) Het adaptieve vermogen van het Nationaal Waterplan. H2O , 42: 25-26.

Cuppen, E., S. Breukers, M. Hisschemöller and E. Bergsma (2010) Q Methodology to select participants for a stakeholder dialogue on energy options from biomass in the Netherlands . Ecological Economics , 69(3):579-591.

Dellink, R., M. den Elzen, H. Aiking, E. Bergsma, F. Berkhout, T. Dekker and J. Gupta (2009) Sharing the burden of financing adaptation to climate change. Global Environmental Change , 19(4): 411-421.

Cuppen, E., S. Breukers, E. Bergsma and M. Hisschemöller (2008)  Biomassadialoog geeft inzicht in complexiteit. Milieu , 14(6), 10-11.

Bergsma, E.J. (2007) Who Pays? Global justice and the costs of climate change. The Broker , 5: 7-10.

Bergsma, E.J. (2007) Milieurechtvaardigheid in klimaatpolitiek- en beleid. In Bakker, N., A.J. Dietz and M. Wolsink (red.), Ruimte voor milieu,  Uitgeverij Jan van Arkel: Utrecht.

Book chapters

Van der Grijp, N., Bergsma, E. and J. Gupta (2013) The Dutch Focus: A Delta Act for Climate Adaptation. In: Peeters , M., M. Stallworthy , and J. de Cendra de Larragán (eds.) Climate Law In EU Member States - Towards National Legislation for Climate Protection. Edward Elgar Publishing : Cheltenham UK, pp. 312-330.

Bergsma, E. (2012) "Waarom doe je het niet over Johan Cruijff?" Fennema over de spanning tussen democratie en meritocratie. In: Maussen, M. en F. Vermeulen, Democratie en wetenschap - Essays voor Meindert Fennema, Universiteit van Amsterdam (eigen beheer), pp. 86-93.

Conference papers

Bergsma, E. and M.J.M. Maussen (2013) Democratic legitimacy and flood damage compensation. Distributive decision-making and accountability in American risk management. Reflections on Katrina. Paper presented at the ECPR conference, 4-7 September in Bordeaux, France.

Bergsma, E. and M.J.M. Maussen (2013) Political legitimacy in risk governance. A theoretical analysis of ways of combining democratic and expert based sources of legitimacy. Paper presented at the Mid-west Political Science Association Conference, 11-14 April in Chicago, the United States.

Maussen, M. and E. Bergsma (2012) Meritocracy versus Democracy? An analysis of the relationship between meritocratic and democratic political authority. Paper presented at the Interpretive Policy Analysis conference, 5 - 7 July in Tilburg, the Netherlands.

Meijerink, S., E. Bergsma, M. van den Brink, J. Gupta, P. Jong, J. Klostermann and C. Termeer (2009) An assessment of institutions for climate adaptation - Do institutions for spatial planning, water and nature management in the Netherlands enhance the capacity of society to adapt to climate change? Paper prepared for the Netherlands Institute of Government (NIG) sixth annual work conference, 2009,  Leiden.

Bergsma, E., J. Gupta and P. Jong   (2009) Climate Change and Individual Responsibility in Adaptive Capacity: Case of the Netherlands . Paper presented at the SENSE Symposium Climate Proofing Cities , 1 December 2009, Amsterdam / Volendam.

Bergsma, E. (2008) Dividing the costs of adaptation. Paper presented at the VI International Conference on Ethics and Environmental Policies, Ethics and Climate Change - Scenarios for justice and sustainability, Padova, 23-26 October 2008.

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