The Role of Experts in the Reform Process in Greece

Abstract

This article explores the role of expertise in the reform process in Greece by utilising the advocacy coalition framework. Knowledge, power and policy reform are discussed by comparing three frameworks that place knowledge in the centre of the analysis: advocacy coalitions, epistemic communities and policy transfer networks. The theoretical claims made in this paper are illustrated through a discussion of the 2001 constitutional reform and in particular the reform of article 24 on the environment and article 102 on decentralisation of public administration and the strengthening of regional governance. It is argued that the advocacy coalition is a useful framework for studying the role of experts in policy reform, although the framework could be strengthened if more emphasis was placed on political, economic and social interests and the way they form belief systems. In particular, regarding Greece it is claimed that the role of experts in policy reform has increased as part of a general move towards the modernisation of public administration in Greece.

Acknowledgements

I would like to thank the editors, Jonathan Davies, George Pagoulatos and Dimitris Sotiropoulos for their useful comments on earlier drafts of this paper. My special thanks to all the people that agreed to be interviewed and provided me with precious material.