Projects / Programmes
LEADING THE LOCALITY: BUREAUCRATIZATION OF POLITICS OR POLITICIZATION OF BUREAUCRACY?
| Code |
Science |
Field |
Subfield |
| 5.06.00 |
Social sciences |
Political science |
|
| Code |
Science |
Field |
| S170 |
Social sciences |
Political and administrative sciences |
| Code |
Science |
Field |
| 5.06 |
Social Sciences |
Political science |
Leadership, bureaucracy, politicization, administration, politics, Slovenia.
Researchers (1)
| no. |
Code |
Name and surname |
Research area |
Role |
Period |
No. of publicationsNo. of publications |
| 1. |
33786 |
PhD Simona Kukovič |
Political science |
Head |
2018 - 2020 |
308 |
Organisations (1)
Abstract
In the traditional (Weberian and Wilsonian) understanding of the relationship between bureaucrats and politicians, there is a clear hierarchy and division of labor between them: the politician functions as a sovereign representative of political values and interests, while the bureaucrat is the subordinate expert adviser and policy implementer, whose major concern is efficiency. In this conception, leadership is exercised, by definition, by politicians, with bureaucrats specializing in creating order and proposing workable alternatives in the face of complex social problems (‘t Hart 2014, 27; ‘t Hart and Uhr 2008). Most of the contemporary authors, such as Peters (1988), Aberbach, Putnam and Rockman (1981), Svara (1999), Heady (2001), Mouritzen and Svara (2002) disagree with the notion of a strict division between administration and politics as advocated by Weber and Wilson, therefore they have presented and advocated models that describe the relations between administration and politics in differing manners. The conflict between senior civil servants and politicians is in administrative or/and political science commonly stated as one of the basic problems of contemporary political authority and public leadership. If we want to fully understand the processes of leadership and their effects, it is urgent to proceed with in-depth research of the relations between both key groups that influence the processes of governance the most.
The proposed research project is originating from political science, but also includes some interdisciplinary elements, combining the study of two phenomena: public leadership and the politico-administrative dichotomy at the government level closest to the citizens. No comprehensive study has been undertaken in Slovenia since the introduction of the current system of local government in 1994, to address the relationship between politics and administration in relation to public leadership. Therefore, the results of our project would enable the development of typologies of political and administrative leadership. The crucial research question is ‘who is in charge in the municipal hall?’ An exploration of leadership in the municipalities must be concerned not only with the individual contributions of mayors or DMAs, but with how they relate to each other and how the work of local government is divided between them. The aim of the proposed project is to link together the fragmented knowledge that has been developed about politico-administrative relations at the local level. At the same time, we will explore the infamous overlap between the political role and the administrative role of Slovenian mayors, proving the existence of the so-called pure hybrid that was so far only theoretically implied (but never clearly demonstrated), representing the total overlap of political and administrative roles in the performance of public functions.
The proposed research project will include an analysis of primary data; the main research method will be fieldwork, using a structured multi-modular questionnaire among the mayors and DMAs of Slovenian municipalities. Observation will therefore be directed towards the political leaders and top administrators in the Slovenian local government. In addition to the standard quantitative method, we will also use qualitative data obtained through a series of in-depth interviews. We will conduct structured interviews with selected mayors to detect presence of the pure hybrid situation, i.e. the fourth image configuration of Aberbach, Putnam and Rockman. Since this proposed postdoctoral research project is among very few attempts to search for the actual existence of a heretofore purely theoretical image, involving a complete overlap of political and administrative roles in the performance of public functions at the local level, we will use the interviews to identify the consequences of such a setting in for municipal leadership.
Cited references are located in the descripti
Significance for science
The issue of research of relationship between administration and politics has a long history, and the beginnings of the development of politico-administrative dichotomy are traced back to the work of Woodrow Wilson and Max Weber at the end of 19th century. Most of the contemporary authors, such as Peters (1988), Aberbach, Putnam and Rockman (1981), Svara (1999), Heady (2001), Mouritzen and Svara (2002) disagree with the notion of a strict division between administration and politics as advocated by Weber and Wilson, therefore they have presented and advocated models that describe the relations between administration and politics in differing manners. The conflict between senior civil servants and politicians is in administrative or/and political science commonly stated as one of the basic problems of contemporary political authority and public leadership. If we want to fully understand the processes of leadership and their effects, it is urgent to proceed with in-depth research of the relations between both key groups that influence the processes of governance the most. The proposed research is interdisciplinary in nature, combining study of two phenomena, namely, public leadership and politico-administrative dichotomy at the citizens’ closest, local level, of government. Both areas suffer from substantial academic deficit, since only a few authors comprehensively dealt with particular area so far, but even rarer are the individuals that have jointly analyzed both areas in their research. In Slovenia there has been no comprehensive study done since the introduction of the local government in 1994, which would address the relationship between politics and administration in relation to the public leadership. Therefore the results of our project are going to enable the development of models and/or typologies of political and administrative leadership. At the same time we will explore the infamous overlap between political and administrative role of Slovenian mayor, proving the existence of the so-called pure hybrid that was so far only theoretically implied total overlap of political and administrative roles in the performance of public functions. The added value of the proposed research project for development of science spans two fields, namely theoretical and methodological contribution. The theoretical contribution of the proposed project concerns the creation of political and administrative management typologies at the local level in the country with a differentiated system of local government. This way we aim to upgrade the existing theoretical models of politico-administrative dichotomy. The methodological contribution is an innovative approach to the study the political and administrative leadership, with systematic and methodological analysis of politico-administrative dichotomy. Findings and results of the proposed project will leave profound and lasting impact.
Cited references are to be found in the description of the research project.
Significance for the country
The issue of research of relationship between administration and politics has a long history, and the beginnings of the development of politico-administrative dichotomy are traced back to the work of Woodrow Wilson and Max Weber at the end of 19th century. Most of the contemporary authors, such as Peters (1988), Aberbach, Putnam and Rockman (1981), Svara (1999), Heady (2001), Mouritzen and Svara (2002) disagree with the notion of a strict division between administration and politics as advocated by Weber and Wilson, therefore they have presented and advocated models that describe the relations between administration and politics in differing manners. The conflict between senior civil servants and politicians is in administrative or/and political science commonly stated as one of the basic problems of contemporary political authority and public leadership. If we want to fully understand the processes of leadership and their effects, it is urgent to proceed with in-depth research of the relations between both key groups that influence the processes of governance the most. The proposed research is interdisciplinary in nature, combining study of two phenomena, namely, public leadership and politico-administrative dichotomy at the citizens’ closest, local level, of government. Both areas suffer from substantial academic deficit, since only a few authors comprehensively dealt with particular area so far, but even rarer are the individuals that have jointly analyzed both areas in their research. In Slovenia there has been no comprehensive study done since the introduction of the local government in 1994, which would address the relationship between politics and administration in relation to the public leadership. Therefore the results of our project are going to enable the development of models and/or typologies of political and administrative leadership. At the same time we will explore the infamous overlap between political and administrative role of Slovenian mayor, proving the existence of the so-called pure hybrid that was so far only theoretically implied total overlap of political and administrative roles in the performance of public functions. The added value of the proposed research project for development of science spans two fields, namely theoretical and methodological contribution. The theoretical contribution of the proposed project concerns the creation of political and administrative management typologies at the local level in the country with a differentiated system of local government. This way we aim to upgrade the existing theoretical models of politico-administrative dichotomy. The methodological contribution is an innovative approach to the study the political and administrative leadership, with systematic and methodological analysis of politico-administrative dichotomy. Findings and results of the proposed project will leave profound and lasting impact.
Cited references are to be found in the description of the research project.
Most important scientific results
Interim report,
final report
Most important socioeconomically and culturally relevant results
Interim report,
final report
