Political control of coordination? The roles of ministerial advisers in government coordination in Denmark and Sweden. (24th March 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Hustedt, Thurid; Salomonsen, Heidi H.
• Other Names: Salomonsen Heidi Houlberg guestEditor.; Hustedt Thurid guestEditor.; Kolltveit Kristoffer guestEditor.
• Is Part Of: Public administration. Volume 95:Number 2(2017)
• Page Start: 393
• Page End: 406
• Publication Date: 2017-03-24
• Subjects: Public administration -- Periodicals; Civil service -- Periodicals; 350
• DOI: 10.1111/padm.12312
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0033-3298

Abstract

Abstract : Ministerial advisers are said to strengthen the political control of bureaucracy. Using a comparative case design, this article investigates this claim by studying the roles of ministerial advisers in government coordination in Denmark and Sweden. The article demonstrates how the roles of advisers differ in coordination: Swedish advisers directly control government coordination through hierarchical authority. The roles of advisers and bureaucrats are functionally differentiated in coordination. In contrast, Danish advisers play a more indirect role in coordination. Rather than controlling coordination, they serve to reproduce the functional politicization of the permanent bureaucracy in government coordination. The findings underline the relevance of including advisers in the future study of government coordination. The analysis is based on 48 interviews with advisers and top civil servants in Denmark and Sweden.