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The Political Attitudes of Senior Civil Servants in Western Europe: a Preliminary Report

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  • Putnam, Robert D.

Abstract

Can there really be much doubt who governs our complex modern societies? Public bureaucracies, staffed largely by permanent civil servants, are responsible for the vast majority of policy initiatives taken by governments. Discretion, not merely for deciding individual cases, but for crafting the content of most legislation has passed from the legislature to the executive. Bureaucrats, monopolizing as they do much of the available information about the shortcomings of existing policies, as well as much of the technical expertise necessary to design practical alternatives, have gained a predominant influence over the evolution of the agenda for decision. Elected executives everywhere are outnumbered and outlasted by career civil servants. 1 In a literal sense, the modern political system is essentially ‘bureaucratic’ – characterized by ‘the rule of officials’.

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  • Putnam, Robert D., 1973. "The Political Attitudes of Senior Civil Servants in Western Europe: a Preliminary Report," British Journal of Political Science, Cambridge University Press, vol. 3(3), pages 257-290, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:cup:bjposi:v:3:y:1973:i:03:p:257-290_00
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    Cited by:

    1. Ferdous Jahan & Asif Shahan, 2008. "Politics−Bureaucracy Relationship in Bangladesh: Consequences for the Public Service Commission," Public Organization Review, Springer, vol. 8(4), pages 307-328, December.
    2. Michael C. Horowitz & Matthew Fuhrmann, 2018. "Studying Leaders and Military Conflict," Journal of Conflict Resolution, Peace Science Society (International), vol. 62(10), pages 2072-2086, November.
    3. Mandy Singer-Brodowski & Janne von Seggern & Anika Duveneck & Nadine Etzkorn, 2020. "Moving (Reflexively within) Structures. The Governance of Education for Sustainable Development in Germany," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(7), pages 1-20, April.

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