Changing patterns of ministerial circulation: the Italian case in a long-term perspective. Issue 6 (2nd November 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Martocchia Diodati, Nicola; Verzichelli, Luca
• Is Part Of: West European politics. Volume 40:Issue 6(2017)
• Page Start: 1352
• Page End: 1372
• Publication Date: 2017-11-02
• Subjects: Ministers -- minister selection -- political career -- political elites -- cabinet government -- Italy; Europe -- Politics and government -- 1945- -- Periodicals; 320.94
• DOI: 10.1080/01402382.2017.1318254
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0140-2382

Abstract

Abstract: The circulation of the ruling class has been a relevant concern in political analysis, but investigation of the determinants of a successful career still remains relatively neglected. This article aims at filling this interpretative gap by focusing on long-term transformations of ministerial careers in Italy. By using an original dataset on ministerial careers between 1976 and 2015, the article explains the patterns of intra-governmental career by analysing the selection for higher government offices. A first descriptive analysis leads to the formulation of a working proposition based on the increasing complexity of the patterns of governmental careers. In this context, the new role of the Prime Minister as a principal in the process of ministerial selection and other procedural constraints are discussed. An ordinal logistic regression analysis confirms the validity of such a general proposition, highlighting the relevance of personalisation and policy expertise in the evolution of intra-governmental careers.