From the Politics of Bureaucracy to the politics of representative bureaucracy
| Author | Eckhard Schröter |
| DOI | 10.1177/1369148119842036 |
| Published date | 01 August 2019 |
| Date | 01 August 2019 |
| Subject Matter | Breakthrough Commentaries |
https://doi.org/10.1177/1369148119842036
The British Journal of Politics and
International Relations
2019, Vol. 21(3) 494 –503
© The Author(s) 2019
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DOI: 10.1177/1369148119842036
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From the Politics of
Bureaucracy to the politics of
representative bureaucracy
Eckhard Schröter
Abstract
The Politics of Bureaucracy provides an important impetus for the research of representative
bureaucracy and at the same time serves as an analytical frame for a research agenda on
representativeness in the public sector. The major impetus comes from one of the book’s core
messages that public administration is tightly interwoven with politics and society. As a reform
paradigm, representative bureaucracy aims for a public sector workforce that mirrors the social
composition of the society it is supposed to serve. If successful, this measure is expected to
improve organisational performance, relations with social groups and also overall political
legitimacy. However, representativeness is no panacea to treat all problems of diverse societies
and non-responsive bureaucracies. Rather, potential benefits have to be discounted against likely
pitfalls and extra costs incurred through the pursuit of representativeness. What is more, the
inherent tensions with competing reform paradigms have to be taken into account.
Keywords
bureaucracy, diversity, inclusiveness, legitimacy, performance, public sector reform,
representative bureaucracy, state traditions
Introduction: Bringing society back in
The history of the Politics of Bureaucracy is deeply rooted in an era of profound social
and political transformation. Guy Peters vividly describes how the initial ideas for the
book were conceived amid heightened social tensions, which eventually manifested
themselves in urban riots in the United States and beyond. Much of this outburst of politi-
cal energy was also translated into social movements (promoting emancipatory causes
such as civil liberties and women’s lib movements or rallying behind peace and environ-
mental protection) that left their distinct marks on the political development of Western
democracies – and apparently on the deep insights of the Politics of Bureaucracy, too. It
flows from this that the nexus between state and society is a core element of Guy Peters’
Deutsche Hochschule der Polizei (German Police University), Münster, Germany
Corresponding author:
Eckhard Schröter, Department of Leadership, Organisation and Administrative Sciences, Deutsche
Hochschule der Polizei (German Police University), Zum Roten Berge 18-24, 48165 Münster, Germany.
Email: eckhard.schroeter@dhpol.de
842036BPI0010.1177/1369148119842036The British Journal of Politics and International RelationsSchröter
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