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Neutral Competence and Political Responsiveness: An Uneasy Relationship
Author(s) -
West William F.
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
policy studies journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.773
H-Index - 69
eISSN - 1541-0072
pISSN - 0190-292X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1541-0072.2005.00099.x
Subject(s) - bureaucracy , politics , competence (human resources) , doctrine , discretion , objectivity (philosophy) , political science , civil servants , public administration , positive economics , law and economics , political economy , public relations , sociology , epistemology , social psychology , law , psychology , economics , philosophy
This essay examines the popular argument that a culture of nonpartisan objectivity within the career bureaucracy can effectively serve the interests of presidents and other political executives. A close reading of the literature reveals that neutral competence has become an ambiguous concept. Moreover, evidence drawn from recent studies of OMB (Office of Management and Budget) and from the bureaucratic politics literature more generally suggests that it may not be realistic to expect that civil servants can be nonpartisan and still satisfy the president's need for responsiveness. Although neutral competence is a highly relevant doctrine in some administrative contexts, it is difficult to reconcile with the goal of political responsiveness in areas where bureaucrats are called upon to exercise political discretion.