The “Swivel Service”? (Cont’d) January 26th 2006 PUBLIC SERVICE VALUES The “Swivel Service”? (Cont’d) January 26th 2006

The Career Public Service benefits speaking truth to power/long-term view of the public good official anonymity & security of tenure expertise/capability performance based on merit drawbacks may not be politically responsive may become ossified rigid adherence to accepted policies

The Paradox of Public Service Values demand high ethical standards of public servants requires people devoted to public service strong substantive values may bring them into conflict with elected officials demand people who are highly capable capable of challenging elected leadership raises issues of democratic control

The Paradox of Public Service Values a highly competent/ethical public service (required for democracy) may generate considerable conflict between public service and elected officials may raise issues of democratic control how serious this problem is perceived to be depends on... the model of democracy in question!!

Bureaucratic-Political Conflict what if there is no evidence of conflict between bureaucratic and elected officials? are bureaucrats doing their job? i.e. “speaking truth to power” “...reminding political officials of things they should do but for which there is no immediate political gain” have elected officials been captured by the bureaucracy?

The Not-So-Civil Service: Power Resources and the Relationship Between Ministers and their Senior Civil Servants January 26, 2006

Resources – Senior Bureaucratic Officials expertise policy process person-power relationship with other departments relationship with clientele

Resources -- Ministers political legitimacy expertise political vis-a-vis public vis-a-vis cabinet ability to manage relationship outside expertise competing lines of advice relationship with cabinet, PM relationship with public/media

The Tenure of Ministers “ministerial musical chairs” move often and frequency has increased effects on ministerial power the traditional view ministerial musical chairs weakens the power of minister the counter-traditional view ministerial capture

Ministerial Resources and Public Opinion Polling revolution in computer technology costs of public opinion polling have dropped exponential rise in the growth of public opinion polling by government departments the role of the minister as the political antenna of the department may be becoming obsolete senior bureaucrats probably have a better read of public opinion on a given policy issue

The Tenure of Senior Public Servants the revolving deputy ministerial door move often and frequency has increased effects on deputy ministerial power the traditional view equalizes the relationship between DMs and ministers – both are short-term departmental residents why? an alternative view strengthens the Centre (e.g PCO)

The Tenure of Ministers and their Senior Public Servants changing patterns in the tenure of ministers and deputy ministers... effects are ambiguous/contradictory complex interaction between both patterns power of ministers/DM in new environment is an open empirical question HOWEVER... relationships are changing both changes are important in terms of relationships between departments and The Centre