The assassination of Pim Fortuyn and his party's dramatic gains in the May 2002 general election made Dutch politics front page news around the world. The collapse of the party he founded, however, was as rapid as its rise, leading to equally dramatic changes in 2003. This revised and updated new edition of the leading text looks behind the headlines to provide a comprehensive introduction to governance and politics in the Netherlands. The authors explore the causes, impact and advantages and disadvantages of the quest for consensus, which remains its most striking characteristic, and provide full coverage of recent developments and events.