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Policy Positions of Bureaucrats at the Front Lines

Are They Susceptible to Strategic Communication

Bibliographic Data

ID6364952
AuthorsSimon Calmar Andersen (0000-0001-5274-6953, Aarhus University), Morten Jakobsen (0000-0002-0279-8867, Aarhus University)
Year2016
Volume77
Issue1
Pages57-66
Publication date2016-05-26
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenuePublic Administration Review (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0033-3352 • E-ISSN: 1540-6210
PublisherWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1111/puar.12584
OpenAlexW2406333097
LanguageEN
Citations received34
References cited27

It is well established that bureaucrats’ implementation of policies is influenced by their own policy positions, that is, their attitudes toward the given policies. However, what affects the policy positions of bureaucrats? This article focuses on whether the policy positions of bureaucrats at the front lines of government are susceptible to frames and cues embedded in communication. Based on the notion that bureaucrats often adhere to certain professional norms when developing their attitudes toward policies, the authors hypothesize that communication frames and cues that align policies with such norms move bureaucrats’ policy positions in favor of the policy. Results of four studies in European and American settings among mid‐ and street‐level bureaucrats show support for the hypothesized effect. They also show that aligning policies with dimensions outside professional norms is ineffective, possibly even producing opposite effects

Business · Front (military · Geography · Meteorology · Political science · Public relations · Strategic Communication · Policy Transfer and Learning · Political Influence and Corporate Strategies · Public Administration · Public Policy and Administration Research

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Unique citing works34
Citations per year3,78
Citation span2017 - 2026 (10)
Citation velocitycurrent
Highly citedNo
Citation typesNeutral: 33
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