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The Welfare State Managers: Senior Civil Servants in Sweden

Jon Pierre and Peter Ehn

in Bureaucratic Elites in Western European States: A Comparative Analysis of Top Officials

The first part of this chapter discusses retrenchment, recent institutional changes, and senior civil servants in Sweden; it attributes the recent changes in the senior civil service to the budgetary ... More

The first part of this chapter discusses retrenchment, recent institutional changes, and senior civil servants in Sweden; it attributes the recent changes in the senior civil service to the budgetary crisis of the state and the emergence of a less interventionalist control regime, in which the heyday of state‐driven economic and social change has gone. The main source of uncertainty now concerns the final destination of the rapid changes in many core aspects of Swedish politics and public administration. The different sections of the chapter look at: the size and structure of the Swedish civil service; ranks of senior civil servants; systems of recruitment and promotion; party membership among senior civil servants; inter‐ministerial mobility of civil servants; status in the civil service; the social and educational backgrounds of top officials; informal contacts across ministries and between ministries and agencies; the relationship between national and sub‐national officials and those working in agencies; political party policies towards the civil service; and the social status of the senior civil service.Less

Senior Officials in the Danish Central Administration: From Bureaucrats to Policy Professionals and Managers

Hanne Nexø Jensen and Tim Knudsen

in Bureaucratic Elites in Western European States: A Comparative Analysis of Top Officials

The Danish senior civil service has a mixture of older and newer traditions, in which history and tradition are very important. Accordingly, this chapter starts by summarizing the historical ... More

The Danish senior civil service has a mixture of older and newer traditions, in which history and tradition are very important. Accordingly, this chapter starts by summarizing the historical background to the Danish central public administration and the historical role of Danish civil servants. Further sections then introduce the common organizational principles governing the central public administration. The different sections discuss: ranks and numbers of senior civil servants at the top levels; methods of recruitment and promotion; inter‐ministerial mobility; pay; party membership and the senior civil service; the status in the civil service of high status ministries; the social and educational background of top officials; women at the top; interaction and formal contacts within and between ministries; and political party policies towards the senior civil service.Less

A Description of the Greek Higher Civil Service

Dimitri A. Sotiropoulos

in Bureaucratic Elites in Western European States: A Comparative Analysis of Top Officials

Formally, the higher civil service of Greece is a powerful group, but it also has a legitimate claim to relative powerlessness. Its subservient role is correlated with the perennial and problematic ... More

Formally, the higher civil service of Greece is a powerful group, but it also has a legitimate claim to relative powerlessness. Its subservient role is correlated with the perennial and problematic features of the organizational structure of the Greek public administration, which, in certain respects, is pre‐modern. Starts by distinguishing the main features of the top management level of the Greek civil service, pointing out the minor role played by Greek civil servants compared with their counterparts in other European countries. Goes on to describe the ranks of civil servants, the methods of recruitment and promotion to the Greek higher civil service, and the interdepartmental mobility of civil servants. Further sections discuss status in the civil service, the social background characteristics and social status of top officials, organizations and informal contacts across ministries, and political party policies towards the higher civil service.Less

The Social Democratic Party of Germany: (September 1, 1945)

Herbert Marcuse

in Secret Reports on Nazi Germany: The Frankfurt School Contribution to the War Effort

This chapter focuses on the Social Democratic Party (Sozialdemokratische Partei Deutschlands or SPD) of Germany. The report states that among the German political parties that may be revived after ... More

This chapter focuses on the Social Democratic Party (Sozialdemokratische Partei Deutschlands or SPD) of Germany. The report states that among the German political parties that may be revived after the destruction of the Nazi regime, the SPD is likely to play an important role. Dating from the earliest years of the German empire, the SPD has maintained a tradition as the strongest, and prior to 1917 the only, labor party in Germany. Nazi Germany has not succeeded in destroying the allegiance of much of the old social democratic membership. The chapter first provides a background on the origin, composition, and strength of the SPD before discussing its policies, including political policy, economic policy, and foreign policy. It then considers the exiled leadership of the SPD, along with developments in the party since the occupation of Germany. It also assesses the SPD's prospects in the postwar period.Less

Government and Policy

Christopher Maginn

in William Cecil, Ireland, and the Tudor State

This chapter, beginning in Edward's reign and concluding in Elizabeth's last years on the throne, explores what may be Cecil's most important legacy with regard to Ireland: his role in the ... More

This chapter, beginning in Edward's reign and concluding in Elizabeth's last years on the throne, explores what may be Cecil's most important legacy with regard to Ireland: his role in the formulation and oversight of Tudor political policy and the operation of government there. It shows that Cecil's influence with Elizabeth and his unparalleled knowledge of Ireland combined to make him the key to the functioning of Tudor government in the kingdom in the later sixteenth century; and though policy for Ireland never originated from him, his support was essential to see it pursued and implemented. William Cecil, this chapter argues, presided over every step of Tudor policy in Ireland until his death in 1598.Less

The Material Frame

Walter Armbrust

in Martyrs and Tricksters: An Ethnography of the Egyptian Revolution

This chapter discusses the material frame of Tahrir Square. As a space, it has been shaped by the political-economic policies of the past four decades, which essentially turned it into an antihuman ... More

This chapter discusses the material frame of Tahrir Square. As a space, it has been shaped by the political-economic policies of the past four decades, which essentially turned it into an antihuman space, nominally suitable only as a “nonplace” that people passed through. A liberalized economy under the umbrella of a state that systematically redistributed income upward shaped demands for “bread, freedom, and social justice” as surely as it walled off Bulaq from communication with its urban surroundings, segregated Garden City to protect the imperial agents of the “Washington consensus,” and prepared downtown for private redevelopment. The causes of the revolution were inscribed in the urban fabric of its primary theater. It should be emphasized that the revolution-era character of Tahrir Square is incomprehensible without linking it to the growth of the formal parts of the expanding city, specifically the suburbs and their gated communities. But it is equally incomprehensible without similarly linking it to the even more significant growth of the informal parts of the city, and indeed the more general character of informality in many spheres of life, most significantly labor, which was systematically made precarious by the same design that poured resources into the new cities and slated Bulaq for extinction. However, the quotidian antihuman Tahrir Square depicted in the chapter has greater depth as a performance space than one might think.Less

An Emerging Political–Administrative Dichotomy

Anchrit Wille

in The Normalization of the European Commission: Politics and Bureaucracy in the EU Executive

This chapter explains how reforms have contributed to a redefined partnership between commissioners, heads of cabinets, and the top civil servants at the helm of the EU Commission. The desire to ... More

This chapter explains how reforms have contributed to a redefined partnership between commissioners, heads of cabinets, and the top civil servants at the helm of the EU Commission. The desire to improve the accountability of the EU Commission has resulted in a clearer demarcation of the political and the administrative parts in the Commission. A greater role clarity and differentiation between the political and bureaucratic level resulted in EU commissioners, heads of cabinets, and senior officials having different perspectives on their leadership. In recent years, the political side of the Commission has become a considerably different world from that of senior officials in the DGs.Less

From National Agents to EU Advisers: The Chefs of Cabinet

Anchrit Wille

in The Normalization of the European Commission: Politics and Bureaucracy in the EU Executive

Among the EU commissioner’s closest advisers are the heads of cabinet (chefs of cabinet). Operating at the interface between politics and administration, they need to cope with the political and ... More

Among the EU commissioner’s closest advisers are the heads of cabinet (chefs of cabinet). Operating at the interface between politics and administration, they need to cope with the political and policy pressures that face the commissioner. Despite their central position, heads of cabinet remain largely invisible and function ‘as the commissioner’s shadow’. In response to accusations of favouritism and nepotism in the 1990s, a new listing of the roles of cabinets was designed to draw sharper lines of responsibility between cabinets and services. The structure and the demography of the cabinets have changed in the past decade and cabinets have been staffed multi-nationally, with a cap placed on the number of advisers permitted. Modernization of the cabinet system has professionalized the role of these senior advisers in the EU Commission.Less

The Politics of Coalition Formation to Influence Legislation

Philip B. Heymann

in Living the Policy Process

This chapter further discusses smoking. What Michael Pillsbury and David Kessler had to do—and the challenge for Matt Myers in the third case—was to follow a handful of steps that define a political ... More

This chapter further discusses smoking. What Michael Pillsbury and David Kessler had to do—and the challenge for Matt Myers in the third case—was to follow a handful of steps that define a political strategy for a particular policy. The understanding significance of occasions (USOs) of the individuals and groups opposed to smoking, and the alternative coalitions of groups to bring about tobacco legislation are discussed in detail. In addition, the familiar structure of rival coalitions, and the choice of coalitions are described.Less

The Policy SET Model

Scott Valentine

in Wind Power Politics and Policy

As outlined in Chapter 1, the main intention of this book is to identify and explain forces that catalyze or prevent a more robust diffusion of wind power in the electricity sector. This chapter ... More

As outlined in Chapter 1, the main intention of this book is to identify and explain forces that catalyze or prevent a more robust diffusion of wind power in the electricity sector. This chapter lays the groundwork for such an analysis by introducing and describing the main features of a common framework that can be used for guiding analysis and development of wind power development policy. The main merit of applying a common framework to case study analysis is that it makes it possible to compare wind power policies in different nations and highlight similarities and differences. In the best case scenario, comparative analysis will unearth sufficient commonalities to construct theory to help us better understand what causes wind power to flourish in one nation and flounder in another. Even if sufficient commonalities are not uncovered, a comprehensive analysis using a common framework will at least provide insight into which issues are of greatest importance in a given national context and the scale and scope of how influential variables interconnect to shape wind power development prospects. In 1983, Thomas Hughes published a book titled Networks of Power in which he described the evolution of electrification in Western society from 1880 to 1930. In undertaking his analysis, Hughes observed that the diffusion of electrification occurred amidst a ”seamless web”of social, technical, economic, and political causal factors that engender the development of a specific technological regime. In his own words:. . . Electric power systems embody the physical, intellectual and symbolic resources of the society that constructs them. Therefore, in explaining changes in the configuration of power systems, the historian must examine the changing resources and aspirations of organizations, groups and individuals. Electric power systems made in different societies”as well as in different times”involve certain basic technical components and connections, but variations in the basic essentials often reveal variations in resources, traditions, political arrangements, and economic practices from one society to another and from one time to another. In a sense, electric power systems, like so much other technology, are both causes and effects of social change. . . . Power systems reflect and influence the context, but they also develop an internal dynamic. . . . Less

Introduction

Thomas Rath

in Myths of Demilitarization in Postrevolutionary Mexico, 1920–1960

This Introduction starts by describing a military incident that happened in Mexico, and thus explains how the process of Mexican demilitarization started. The Introduction also focuses on the major ... More

This Introduction starts by describing a military incident that happened in Mexico, and thus explains how the process of Mexican demilitarization started. The Introduction also focuses on the major political policy petitions and complaints that were involved in this demilitarization process and tries to answer some important questions. Furthermore, it explores the role of the Mexican military in shaping the national political system at different levels in different places. Various imperative factors which are connected with the “postrevolutionary Mexican demilitarization” are examined. The Introduction also discusses some of the theories and ideas of important political activities, politicians, and “postrevisionist” historians. The later part of the Introduction outlines the chapters that follow.Less

Changing State Thinking: Policy Movement towards Right to Information

Himanshu Jha

in Capturing Institutional Change: The Case of the Right to Information Act in India

This chapter examines the emerging processes in the second phase (1989–2005), which is treated as the second and final layer. It shows that the incremental effect of emerging ideas on the state’s ... More

This chapter examines the emerging processes in the second phase (1989–2005), which is treated as the second and final layer. It shows that the incremental effect of emerging ideas on the state’s thinking resulted in tangible policy movements and led to institutional change. We show that in the final stage of layering the transition from ‘opposition’ to ‘mainstream’ politics was consequential in institutional change. Nascent ideas emanating from the ‘opposition politics’ got embedded within the ‘mainstream politics’ resulting in political commitment and tangible policy actions. The rudimentary ideas on the norm of openness matured and were consolidated within the state thinking and reached a tipping point in 2005. The weight and momentum of ideas incrementally rendered the issues of openness and access to official information a sine qua non within the state.Less

“Becoming Visible”: Italian Women and Their Male Co-Citizens in the Liberal State

Sabina Donati (ed.)

in A Political History of National Citizenship and Identity in Italy, 1861-1950

“Becoming Visible”: Italian Women and Their Male Co-Citizens in the Liberal State