Career De‐Separation in Westminster Democracies

Bibliographic Data

ID10358180
AuthorsKeith Dowding (0000-0001-6888-9369, corresponding author), Marija Taflaga (0000-0001-9516-7193)
Year2020
Volume91
Issue1
Pages116-124
Publication date2020-01-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueThe Political Quarterly (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0032-3179 • E-ISSN: 1467-923X
PublisherWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1111/1467-923x.12812
OpenAlexW3004893756
LanguageEN
Citations received11

In Westminster parliamentary systems there was once a clear separation between the careers of public servants and of elected politicians. Politicians decided what policies they wanted to pursue, while public servants advised, devised and delivered the policies. This separation ensured that policy ideas were developed by a professional elite with experience and knowledge. Politicians came from a variety of backgrounds, entering politics for a variety of reasons. Over time, the source of policy advice for ministers has shifted from the professional public servant to political advisers lacking experience and with different career ambitions than public service. Increasingly, elected politicians are becoming ‘professionalised’—emerging from similar party and adviser backgrounds. The de‐separation of what were once distinct career paths has led to poorer policy development, increasing public malfeasance, a lower‐quality civil service, and democratic disenchantment. We need to separate the career paths once more

Civil servants · Democracy · Disenchantment · Elite · Political science · Politics · Public relations · Public service · Sociology · Variety (cybernetics · Labor Movements and Unions · Law · Political and Economic history of UK and US · Public Administration · Social Policy and Reform Studies