The DOI matches its Crossref record.
Bureaucrats and Politicians in Western Democracies
Abstract
In uneasy partnership at the helm of the modern state stand elected party politicians and professional bureaucrats. This book is the first comprehensive comparison of these two powerful elites. In seven countries--the United States, Great Britain, France, Germany, Sweden, Italy, and the Netherlands--researchers questioned 700 bureaucrats and 6OO politicians in an effort to understand how their aims, attitudes, and ambitions differ within cultural settings. One of the authors' most significant findings is that the worlds of these two elites overlap much more in the United States than in Europe. But throughout the West bureaucrats and politicians each wear special blinders and each have special virtues. In a well-ordered polity, the authors conclude, politicians articulate society's dreams and bureaucrats bring them gingerly to earth
Overview
Integrity signals
Registry
Cites
Statistics
Verification
Claims the paper makes
Claims other papers make about this one
Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?
In the citing paper
“This position will allow them to play the role envisaged by Aberbach et al. ' s (1981) Image III in which civil servants ' role is to maintain equilibrium between societal interests on the one hand and politicians on the other hand.”
From The Guardian State: Strengthening the public service against democratic backsliding (2024) · cites this paper as Aberbach et al.'s (1981)
Citations
Cites
Still being checked.
Cited by
Sorted by citations
Items 401–500 of 1,000
National elites’ preferences on the Europeanization of policy making
Real-Dato, J., Göncz, B., & Lengyel, G. (2012) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199602315.003.0004 · Cited by 15
Brorström, S., & Norbäck, M. (2019) · International Review of Administrative Sciences · doi:10.1177/0020852318822090 · Cited by 18
Regulatory policy entrepreneurship and reforms: a comparison of competition and financial regulation
Jabotinsky, H. Y., & Cohen, N. (2019) · Journal of Public Policy · doi:10.1017/s0143814x19000114 · Cited by 15
Abadi, A. M. (2021) · Contemporary Politics · doi:10.1080/13569775.2021.1917163 · Cited by 15
Civil Service Reforms, Public Service Bargains and Dynamics of Institutional Change
Bezes, P., & Lodge, M. C. (2015) · Palgrave Macmillan eBooks · doi:10.1057/9781137491459.0011 · Cited by 15
African Governance and Civil Service Reforms
Olowu, D. (2003) · Palgrave Macmillan US eBooks · doi:10.1057/9781403981288_4 · Cited by 15
Neutrality and Professionalism in the Public Service
Argyriades, D. (1996) · Palgrave Macmillan UK eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-1-349-24808-7_3 · Cited by 15
Bowornwathana, B. (2013) · Asia Pacific Journal of Public Administration · doi:10.1080/23276665.2013.10800988 · Cited by 15
Ståhlberg, K. (1987) · International Review of Administrative Sciences · doi:10.1177/002085238705300303 · Cited by 15
Executives in Comparative Context
Goetz, K. H. (2003) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/0199250154.003.0005 · Cited by 15
The Political System of the European Union
Nugent, N., & Paterson, W. (2003) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/0199250154.003.0006 · Cited by 15
Contracts offered by bureaucrats
Khalil, F., Kim, D., & Lawarree, J. P. (2013) · The RAND Journal of Economics · doi:10.1111/1756-2171.12037 · Cited by 15
Die soziale Zusammensetzung des Deutschen Bundestages
Kaack, H. (1988) · VS Verlag für Sozialwissenschaften eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-322-83554-3_6 · Cited by 15
Neocorporatism and the politics of French education
Ambler, J. S. (1985) · West European Politics · doi:10.1080/01402388508424539 · Cited by 15
The Labor Market of Italian Politicians, Second VersionPreprint
Merlo, A. M., Galasso, V., Landi, M., & Mattozzi, A. (2009) · SSRN Electronic Journal · doi:10.2139/ssrn.1432457 · Cited by 15
Between Merit and Patronage: Hybrid Appointments of Top Civil Service
Mamshae, A. (2025) · Governance · doi:10.1111/gove.12914 · Cited by 14
Populism and Political Appointments
Cohen, N., & Duhl, R. (2025) · Public Administration Review · doi:10.1111/puar.70023 · Cited by 15
Treiber, H. (2022) · Theory and Society · doi:10.1007/s11186-022-09478-0 · Cited by 14
Ethnic Politics, Political Elite, and Regime Change in Nigeria
Kifordu, H. A. (2011) · Studies in Ethnicity and Nationalism · doi:10.1111/j.1754-9469.2011.01147.x · Cited by 15
The Impact of External Change on Civil Service Values in Post-Colonial Hong Kong
Burns, J. P., & Wei, L. (2015) · The China Quarterly · doi:10.1017/s0305741015000405 · Cited by 14
Research Methods for Studying Elites
Семенова, Е. (2017) · Palgrave Macmillan UK eBooks · doi:10.1057/978-1-137-51904-7_7 · Cited by 14
The changing global Public Administration and its theoretical and practical implications for Africa
Dominique, E. U., & Kealeboga, J. M. (2014) · Journal of Public Administration and Policy Research · doi:10.5897/jpapr2014.0284 · Cited by 14
Knassmüller, M., & Veit, S. (2015) · Teaching Public Administration · doi:10.1177/0144739415620949 · Cited by 15
Europe à la carte? European citizenship and its dimensions from the perspective of national elites
Cotta, M., & Russo, F. (2012) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199602315.003.0002 · Cited by 15
Bowornwathana, B. (2005) · Asia Pacific Journal of Public Administration · doi:10.1080/23276665.2005.10779298 · Cited by 14
Alles eine Frage des Managements?
Ebinger, F., & Schmitt, C. (2010) · Politische Vierteljahresschrift · doi:10.1007/s11615-010-0002-3 · Cited by 14
Gregory, R. J. (1997) · Australian Journal of Public Administration · doi:10.1111/j.1467-8500.1997.tb01244.x · Cited by 14
Public Policy, Overhead Democracy and the Professional State Revisited
Durant, R. F. (1995) · Administration & Society · doi:10.1177/009539979502700201 · Cited by 14
Comparing Japanese and American Administrative Elites
Aberbach, J. D., Krauss, E. S., Muramatsu, M., & Rockman, B. A. (1990) · British Journal of Political Science · doi:10.1017/s0007123400005949 · Cited by 14
Self-citationThe Congressional Committee Intelligence System: Information, Oversight, and Change
Aberbach, J. D. (1987) · Congress & the Presidency · doi:10.1080/07343468709507967 · Cited by 14
Self-citationContentious Politics in Western Europe and the United States
Tarrow, S. (2003) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/0199250154.003.0014 · Cited by 14
The Politics of Bureaucracy: A Continuing Saga
Peters, B. G. (2020) · NISPAcee Journal of Public Administration and Policy · doi:10.2478/nispa-2020-0021 · Cited by 13
Does Policy Influence Hollow Out Public Managers’ Political Neutrality?
Åström, J., Olsson, J. I., & Hysing, E. (2021) · Administration & Society · doi:10.1177/00953997211050305 · Cited by 14
Does the cradle of power exist? Sequence analysis of top bureaucrats' career trajectories
Trangbæk, A. (2022) · Governance · doi:10.1111/gove.12688 · Cited by 13
Bauhr, M., Charron, N., & Wängnerud, L. (2024) · Political Behavior · doi:10.1007/s11109-024-09925-x · Cited by 13
Economic rationalism in Canberra 25 years on?
Pusey, M. (2018) · Journal of Sociology · doi:10.1177/1440783318759086 · Cited by 13
Chief financial officers’ perceptions of their roles inside nonprofit organizations
Daff, L. (2020) · Financial Accountability and Management · doi:10.1111/faam.12233 · Cited by 13
Interpreting lived experiences: The dilemmas of public sector leaders
Masud, M., & Hossain, M. R. (2021) · Public Administration and Development · doi:10.1002/pad.1957 · Cited by 13
What's in a name? The politics of name changes inside bureaucracy
Yesilkagit, K., Bezes, P., & Fleischer, J. (2022) · Public Administration · doi:10.1111/padm.12827 · Cited by 13
Rahman, M. S. (2014) · Asian Journal of Political Science · doi:10.1080/02185377.2014.925407 · Cited by 13
Thailand: The Politics of Reform of the Secretariat of the Prime Minister
Bowornwathana, B. (1996) · Australian Journal of Public Administration · doi:10.1111/j.1467-8500.1996.tb02558.x · Cited by 13
Connolly, S., & Kassim, H. (2016) · Public Administration · doi:10.1111/padm.12250 · Cited by 13
Introduction: European integration as an elite project
Verzichelli, L., Best, H., & Lengyel, G. (2012) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199602315.003.0001 · Cited by 13
Professional Autonomy versus Political Control
Carboni, N. (2010) · Public Policy and Administration · doi:10.1177/0952076709356886 · Cited by 13
Middle Level Bureaucrats: Policy, Discretion and Control
Page, E. C. (2007) · Palgrave Macmillan UK eBooks · doi:10.1057/9780230593084_10 · Cited by 13
The Changing European State: Pressures from Within
Galès, P. L. (2003) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/0199250154.003.0022 · Cited by 13
Devolution and Decentralization
Bresser‐Pereira, L. C. (2004) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/0199261180.003.0017 · Cited by 13
Relationships Between Citizens and Political Parties
Biorcio, R., & Mannheimer, R. (1998) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/0198294735.003.0007 · Cited by 13
Regime Change and Administrative Culture
Schröter, E., & Röber, M. (1997) · The American Review of Public Administration · doi:10.1177/027507409702700201 · Cited by 13
Belief Congruence of Governmental and Interest Group Elites With Their Constituencies
Sabatier, P., & McLaughlin, S. M. (1988) · American Politics Research · doi:10.1177/1532673x8801600104 · Cited by 13
The centre of government in West Germany: changing patterns under 14 legislatures (1949–1987)
Müller‐Rommel, F. (1988) · European Journal of Political Research · doi:10.1111/j.1475-6765.1988.tb00148.x · Cited by 13
Integrative governance: challenges for the senior public service
Thynne, I. (1998) · International Review of Administrative Sciences · doi:10.1177/002085239806400301 · Cited by 13
Mitigating systemic dangers: the role of connectivity inducers in a deliberative system
Mendonça, R. F. (2019) · Routledge eBooks · doi:10.4324/9781351182645-3 · Cited by 12
Raiu, C. V., & Mina-Raiu, L. (2023) · Transylvanian Review of Administrative Sciences · doi:10.24193/tras.70e.6 · Cited by 12
Garritzmann, J. L., & Siderius, K. (2024) · Governance · doi:10.1111/gove.12859 · Cited by 13
Mumtaz, Z., & Nakray, K. (2025) · Administrative Theory & Praxis · doi:10.1080/10841806.2025.2452677 · Cited by 12
Abadi, A. M. (2021) · Journal of Current Southeast Asian Affairs · doi:10.1177/18681034211058470 · Cited by 12
Stocker, N., & Thompson‐Fawcett, M. (2014) · Local Government Studies · doi:10.1080/03003930.2014.887563 · Cited by 12
Social Science Expertise and Executive‐Bureaucratic Politics in Britain
Bulmer, M. (1988) · Governance · doi:10.1111/j.1468-0491.1988.tb00058.x · Cited by 12
Bringing the state elites back in ?
Genieys, W., & Joana, J. (2015) · Gouvernement et action publique · doi:10.3917/gap.153.0057 · Cited by 12
Coller, X., Cordero, G., & Echavarren, J. M. (2017) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-319-63826-3_5 · Cited by 12
The new political economy of regulation
Benoît, C. (2019) · French Politics · doi:10.1057/s41253-019-00093-7 · Cited by 12
Maor, M. H. (1992) · Scandinavian Political Studies · doi:10.1111/j.1467-9477.1992.tb00133.x · Cited by 12
Costa, L. D., & Codato, A. (2013) · Editora da UFRGS eBooks · doi:10.7476/9788538603849.0006 · Cited by 12
Varieties of administrative convergence
Maor, M. H., & Jones, G. (1999) · International Journal of Public Sector Management · doi:10.1108/09513559910262670 · Cited by 12
Lee, E. W. Y., & Yeung, R. L. K. (2017) · Asia Pacific Journal of Public Administration · doi:10.1080/23276665.2017.1325623 · Cited by 11
Capano, G., Cavalieri, A., & Pritoni, A. (2024) · Policy Studies Journal · doi:10.1111/psj.12577 · Cited by 11
Verzichelli, L. (2017) · Palgrave Macmillan UK eBooks · doi:10.1057/978-1-137-51904-7_24 · Cited by 11
Serving the Nation: Devolution and the Civil Service in Wales
Cole, A. M. (2011) · The British Journal of Politics and International Relations · doi:10.1111/j.1467-856x.2011.00470.x · Cited by 11
In the Eye of the Storm: Civil Servants and Managers in the UK Department of Health
Jarman, H., & Greer, S. L. (2010) · Social Policy and Administration · doi:10.1111/j.1467-9515.2009.00707.x · Cited by 11
Government Programme as a Strategy—The Finnish Experience
Johanson, J.-E., Pekkola, E., & Husman, P. M. (2017) · Administrative Sciences · doi:10.3390/admsci7020016 · Cited by 11
The relationship between politics and administration
Sancino, A., Meneguzzo, M., Braga, A., & Esposito, P. (2018) · Routledge eBooks · doi:10.4324/9781315306278-6 · Cited by 11
The end of the Whitehall model?
Wilson, G. K., & Barker, A. (1995) · West European Politics · doi:10.1080/01402389508425110 · Cited by 11
Dismantling and Rebuilding the Weberian State
Peters, B. G. (2003) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/0199250154.003.0007 · Cited by 11
Piatak, J., Douglas, J. W. B., & Raudla, R. (2019) · Public Management Review · doi:10.1080/14719037.2019.1642949 · Cited by 11
The Bureaucracy and Its Masters: The New Madisonian System in the US
Gormley, W. T. (1991) · Governance · doi:10.1111/j.1468-0491.1991.tb00001.x · Cited by 11
Bureaucratic Responses to Antibureaucratic Administrations
Lowery, D., & Rusbult, C. E. (1986) · Administration & Society · doi:10.1177/009539978601800103 · Cited by 11
Snyder, M. M., Osland, J. S., & Hunter, L. (1995) · Public Administration and Development · doi:10.1002/pad.4230150405 · Cited by 11
PROGRAM IMPLEMENTATION VERSUS PROGRAM DESIGN: WHICH ACCOUNTS FOR POLICY “FAILURE”?
Robertson, D. (1984) · Review of Policy Research · doi:10.1111/j.1541-1338.1984.tb00133.x · Cited by 11
Zifonun, D. (2004) · VS Verlag für Sozialwissenschaften eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-322-80964-3_13 · Cited by 11
Lernen vom privaten Sektor — Bedrohung oder Chance? Oder: Wer hat Angst vor Public Management?
Jann, W. (1998) · VS Verlag für Sozialwissenschaften eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-322-95132-8_1 · Cited by 11
Bureaucratic Politics in the US: Benchmarks for Comparison
Ríggs, F. W. (1988) · Governance · doi:10.1111/j.1468-0491.1988.tb00071.x · Cited by 10
Moving in, managing up: executive job formation and political behaviour
Teodoro, M. P. (2013) · Journal of Public Policy · doi:10.1017/s0143814x1300007x · Cited by 10
Beblavý, M., Sičáková-Beblavá, E., & Ondrusova, D. (2012) · NISPAcee Journal of Public Administration and Policy · doi:10.2478/v10110-012-0008-x · Cited by 10
Lodola, G. (2017) · Colombia Internacional · doi:10.7440/colombiaint91.2017.03 · Cited by 10
Poulsen, B., & Koch, P. B. (2018) · Scandinavian Journal of Public Administration · doi:10.58235/sjpa.v22i3.11404 · Cited by 10
Exploration of the technocratic mentality among European civil servants
Raudla, R., Douglas, J. W. B., & Mohr, Z. T. (2021) · International Review of Administrative Sciences · doi:10.1177/0020852321996421 · Cited by 10
Reforming the Machinery of Government: The Case of the German Federal Bureaucracy
Schröter, E. (2007) · Deutscher Universitätsverlag eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-8350-9100-9_12 · Cited by 10
The government in two semi-presidential systems: France and Portugal in a comparative perspective
Passarelli, G. (2010) · French Politics · doi:10.1057/fp.2010.21 · Cited by 10
BUREAUCRATS AND POLITICIANS: A REPORT ON THE ADMINISTRATIVE ELITES PROJECT
Aberbach, J. D., And, D. B. M., & Rockman, B. A. (1991) · Australian Journal of Public Administration · doi:10.1111/j.1467-8500.1991.tb02476.x · Cited by 10
Self-citationDoes it Matter Who Works at the Center? A Comparative Policy Analysis of Executive Styles
Cooper, C. A., & Marier, P. (2015) · Journal of Comparative Policy Analysis Research and Practice · doi:10.1080/13876988.2015.1031543 · Cited by 10
Pantouflage à la russe: The Recruitment of Russian Political and Business Elites
Huskey, E. (2010) · Palgrave Macmillan UK eBooks · doi:10.1057/9780230293144_8 · Cited by 10
Engelstad, F. (2017) · Palgrave Macmillan UK eBooks · doi:10.1057/978-1-137-51904-7_28 · Cited by 10
The other side of European identity: elite perceptions of threats to a cohesive Europe
Matonytė, I., & Morkevičius, V. (2012) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199602315.003.0005 · Cited by 10
Life at the apex: The functions of permanent secretaries in nine Southern African countries
Montgomery, J. D. (1986) · Public Administration and Development · doi:10.1002/pad.4230060302 · Cited by 10
The Political Economy of Deficit Spending: A Cross Comparison of Industrialized Democracies, 1955–90
Hahm, S. D. (1996) · Environment and Planning C Government and Policy · doi:10.1068/c140227 · Cited by 10
The Premises of Decision‐Making within the Australian Public Service
Matheson, C. (1997) · Australian Journal of Public Administration · doi:10.1111/j.1467-8500.1997.tb01237.x · Cited by 10
Schmidt, M. G. (1988) · VS Verlag für Sozialwissenschaften eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-322-83620-5_1 · Cited by 10
Public administration and public policy: old perspectives, new directions
Reynolds, H. W. (1993) · International Journal of Public Administration · doi:10.1080/01900699308524838 · Cited by 10
Vogler, J. P. (2020) · SSRN Electronic Journal · doi:10.2139/ssrn.3659764 · Cited by 10
Metadata
- Authors
- Aberbach, J. D., Putnam, R. D., & Rockman, B. A.
- Venue
- Harvard University Press eBooks
- Publisher
- Harvard University Press
- Published
- 1981-12-31
- OpenAlex
- W4213436370
- Cited by
- 1,157
- References
- 0
- Citations by year
- 2026: 23 · 2025: 38 · 2024: 30 · 2023: 36 · 2022: 40 · 2021: 42 · 2020: 53 · 2019: 25 · 2018: 30 · 2017: 47 · 2016: 42 · 2015: 43 · 2014: 25 · 2013: 36 · 2012: 50
- FWCI
- 25.50
- Type
- book
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Harvard University Press eBooks (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Political Science and International Relations › Public Administration and Governance
- Social Sciences › Public Administration › Public Policy and Administration Research
- Social Sciences › Political Science and International Relations › Public Administration and Political Analysis
- Keywords
- bureaucrats, politicians, political culture, civil service, party politics, elite attitudes, United States, Great Britain, France, Germany, Sweden, Italy, Netherlands, Western democracies
About these checks
Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.
Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.
Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.
What counts as a claim ›How we measure confidence ›How we check this ›
Are you an author, or do you see a problem with this page? Request a review