The Past and Future of Political-Administrative Relations: Research from Bureaucrats and Politicians to In the Web of Politics—and Beyond

Abstract

This article examines the changing nature of the relations between bureaucrats and politicians. Drawing on our earlier work with Robert D. Putnam (Bureaucrats and Politicians in Western Democracies, 1981) and our book published in 2000 (In the Web of Politics), plus additional works by others in this area, we consider the findings in these studies with particular emphasis on their implications for further research. One notable phenomenon is a retreat from what looked originally like a steady progression of bureaucratic influence in policymaking from Image I (politicians making decisions and bureaucrats implementing them) to Image IV (a deepening overlap of roles) back to Image II (with civil servants bringing facts and knowledge to the policy process and politicians defining values and representing interests). In a dynamic world, one should be cautious in suggesting a future research agenda. Despite this caution, however, we conclude the article with suggestions for work that we think will be important in the near future.

Keywords:

• bureaucrats
• Image IV
• political-administrative
• politicians
• policymaking
• relations
• roles

Notes

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20. Aberbach, J. D.; Rockman, B. A. What Has Happened to the U.S. Senior Civil Service? Brookings Review 1990, 8 (4), 35–41; Aberbach and Rockman, 2000.

21. Aberbach and Rockman, 2000; 101–107.

23. Aberbach and Rockman, 2000; Chapter 6.

27. The Volcker Commission Report, 1989.

28. Aberbach and Rockman, 2000; Chapter 8.

30. Aberbach, Putnam and Rockman, 1981; 6–9.