Dynamics of change in internal policy advisory systems: the hybridization of advisory capacities in Germany

Abstract

Recent scholarship on advisory systems has focussed on the externalization of advisory capacities and sectoral dynamics of change, whereas changes of internal policy advisory systems have not yet been approached systematically. This article proposes an analytical concept for exploring change dynamics in internal policy advisory systems by means of three logics for assessing policy advice (political salience, credibility and representativeness). The approach is illustrated by analyzing changes within the internal policy advisory system of the German federal government . The analysis relies on three original datasets on ministerial departments, research agencies and governmental advisory bodies. We find that the internal advisory system of the German federal government is characterized by a differentiated hybridization of advisory logics, which has changed the nature of policy advice.

Tracing scientisation in the EU Commission’s expert group system

“…The diversification of the expert group structures that we observe ties in with the Commission's multi-pronged approach to the expert groups system and echoes similar findings on the pluralisation and hybridisation of national advisory systems (see e.g. Pattyn et al 2019;Veit, Husted, and Bach 2017).…”

“…Generally speaking, participation patterns of policy advisory committees are closely connected to a committee's governance function, policy influence and status, as Mayntz (1977) has shown (see also Färber 2005, 141;Gornitzka and Sverdrup 2011;Krick 2013;Metz 2013;Mitchell 1997;Veit, Husted, and Bach 2017). They are one of the main institutional parameters of political steer at the point of set-up and therefore often become an issue of political contestation (Färber 2005).…”

Academic policy advice in consensus-seeking countries: the cases of Belgium and Germany

“…In Belgium, plans to reshape the advisory body landscape into a model for the provision of objective analysis in which academic evidence would have a key role were attempted but eventually failed. In Germany, changes of the advisory body system were more profound, though they were not part of deliberate reform attempts, as has been the case in some other countries (Veit et al, 2017).…”

“…For Germany, after moving with almost all ministries to the new capital in 1999, it is relevant to refer to the more competitive political climate in Berlin as compared to the 'Bonn Republic' (Heinze, 2013). One specific case gaining attention in the public debate and in academic research (see Veit et al, 2017) was the use of ad hoc expert commissions under the red-green government of Chancellor Schroeder (1998)(1999)(2000)(2001)(2002)(2003)(2004)(2005). Here, reforms of unemployment and pension policy were prepared by deliberately pluralised commissions, trimming the influence of employers and labour associations compared to previous decades (Heinze, 2013).…”

Politički savjetnici između politike i uprave

“…parlamenti, ministarstva zadužena za upravu) posljednjih dvadesetak godina zaokupljene pitanjem i regulacijom statusa političkih savjetnika. S vremenom postaju aktualni i u drugim zemljama (v. Hustedt & Houlberg Salomonsen, 2013, za Njemačku, Veliku Britaniju i Dansku;Christiansen et al, 2014, za Dansku i Švedsku;Van den Berg, 2017, za Nizozemsku;Pelgrims, 2006, za Belgiju;Veit et al, 2017. i Fleischer, 2012Temmes, 2008, za Finsku).…”