Exploration of the technocratic mentality among European civil servants
| Author | Ringa Raudla,James W. Douglas,Zachary Mohr |
| DOI | http://doi.org/10.1177/0020852321996421 |
| Published date | 01 December 2022 |
| Date | 01 December 2022 |
| Subject Matter | Articles |
Article
Exploration of the
technocratic mentality
among European
civil servants
Ringa Raudla
Tallinn University of Technology, Estonia
James W. Douglas
University of North Carolina at Charlotte, USA
Zachary Mohr
University of North Carolina at Charlotte, USA
Abstract
Civil servants vary in the degree to which they hold technocratic attitudes. We explore
whether bureaucrats’ exposure to politics and politicians is associated with the depo-
liticization dimension of the technocratic mentality. We use survey data of high-level
executives in 19 European countries to explore factors that are associated with exec-
utives’ perceptions that removing issues and activities from the realms of politics leads
to more farsighted policies. We find that respondents’ level of exposure to politics and
politicians is indeed negatively associated with technocratic mentality. Bureaucrats have
studied political science or public administration, work closer to politicians (in terms of
type of organization), interact with them more frequently, and have more positive
perceptions of these interactions tend to have lower levels of technocratic attitudes.
Points for practitioners
Beliefs affect behaviors and behaviors affect outcomes. Technocratic attitudes may limit
the ability of civil ser vants to work effectively with politicians. We show that educa-
tional degrees that promote democratic values and exposure to politicians (particularly
Corresponding author:
James W. Douglas, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Political Science & Public Administration, 9201
University City Blvd, Charlotte, North Carolina 28223-0001, USA.
Email: jwdougla@uncc.edu
International Review of Administrative
Sciences
!The Author(s) 2021
Article reuse guidelines:
sagepub.com/journals-permissions
DOI: 10.1177/0020852321996421
journals.sagepub.com/home/ras
2022, Vol. 88(4) 1013–1031
International
Review of
Administrative
Sciences
positive interactions) are associated with lower levels of technocratic attitudes. Given
that a proper balance between political and technical knowledge can enhance organi-
zational performance (Krause et al., 2006), these findings should be taken into account
when staffing and structuring public organizations.
Keywords
administration and politics, bureaucracy, depoliticization, technocracy, technocratic
attitudes
Introduction
Since the path-breaking research by Putnam (1977), few studies have explored
technocratic mentality and attitudes among bureaucrats. Technocratic attitudes
refer to skepticism about politics, politicians, and political institutions, preference
for making decisions on the basis of technical and scientific knowledge, and belief
that the public interest might be better advanced by rational decision-making
rather than on the basis of ideology or the parochial interests of politicians
(Bertsou and Caramani, 2020; Caramani, 2020; Christensen and Mandelkern,
2019; Esmark, 2017; Putnam, 1977; Ribbhagen, 2011).
There are reasons to believe that technocratic mentality might be on the rise among
civil servants across Europe: a series of management reforms, from New Public
Management (NPM) to New Public Governance, have entailed principles that in var-
ious ways foster technocratic attitudes in bureaucrats (Esmark, 2017, 2020). In partic-
ular, the emergence of connective governance, performance and risk management,
evidence-based policymaking, an increasing use of cost–benefit analysis, and other
forms of policy analysis are likely to have cultivated more technocratic attitudes
among bureaucrats (Christensen and Mandelkern, 2019; Esmark, 2017, 2020;
Ribbhagen, 2011). Furthermore, recent experiences with dramatic crises are likely to
have induced disenchantment with politics and political decision-making (Bertsou and
Caramani, 2020; Bertsou and Pastorella, 2017; Caramani, 2020; Lavezzolo et al., 2020;
Lindstam, 2014). Thus, it would be particularly pertinent to revisit this question and to
explore to what extent bureaucrats in Europe subscribe to technocratic attitudes
towards policymaking. While the concept of technocracy has received renewed interest
in political science in recent years (e.g. Bertsou and Caramani, 2020; Bertsou and
Pastorella, 2017; Caramani, 2020; Lavezzolo et al., 2020), the public administration
and governance literature is lagging behind in exploring it (for a notable exception, see
Esmark, 2020). Furthermore, as the recent aforementioned studies have focused on the
technocratic attitudes of citizens, we have very limited up-to-date comparative knowl-
edge about technocratic attitudes among bureaucrats.
Examining the normative attitudes of bureaucrats is important because these
beliefs influence how they engage in and contribute to policymaking (Christensen
1014 International Review of Administrative Sciences 88(4)
To continue reading
Request your trial