Anticipatory and reactive forms of blame avoidance: of foxes and lions. Issue 4 (26th May 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Hinterleitner, Markus; Sager, Fritz
• Is Part Of: European political science review. Volume 9:Issue 4(2017:Nov.)
• Page Start: 587
• Page End: 606
• Publication Date: 2016-05-26
• Subjects: blame avoidance, -- elite behavior, -- political strategy, -- politics; Politics, Practical -- Europe -- Periodicals; European Union countries -- Politics and government -- Periodicals; 320.09405
• DOI: 10.1017/S1755773916000126
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1755-7739

Abstract

Abstract : Blame avoidance behavior (BAB) encompasses all kinds of integrity-protecting activities by officeholders in the face of potentially blame-attracting events. Although considered essential for a realistic understanding of politics and policymaking, a general understanding of this multi-faceted behavioral phenomenon and its implications has been lacking to date. We argue that this is due to the lack of careful conceptualization of various forms of BAB. Crucially, the difference between anticipatory and reactive forms of BAB is largely neglected in the literature. This paper links anticipatory and reactive forms of BAB as two consecutive decision situations. It exposes dependence relationships between the situations that trigger BAB, the rationalities at work, the resources and strategies applied by blame-avoiding actors, and the various consequences thereof. The paper concludes that anticipatory and reactive BAB are distinct phenomena that require specific research approaches to assess their relevance for the workings of polities.