Original
Balancing Neutral and Responsive Competences in the Context of Functional Politicization
Abstract
ABSTRACT Democratic governments can legitimately expect permanent civil servants to undertake functionally politicized tasks, such as providing political‐tactical advice. However, safeguarding the neutrality and legitimacy of a permanent civil service in the context of functional politicization necessitates that political considerations do not override professional judgment or impede the delivery of free, frank and fearless advice. Although existing research has documented functional politicization in permanent civil services situated in different politico–administrative systems, its behavioral implications remain insufficiently explored. Drawing on a survey of 901 senior permanent civil servants in managerial positions across Denmark's central, regional and local governments, this study finds that the engagement in functionally politicized tasks is associated with a higher likelihood of altering or omitting professional input in response to perceived political pressures. However, the study finds no significant relationship between functional politicization and civil servants' willingness to voice concerns to their superiors, which suggests that their capacity to provide free, frank and fearless advice remains intact.
中文
职能政治化情境下的中立能力与回应能力平衡
摘要
民主政府可以正当地期望常任文官承担职能上政治化的任务，例如提供政治—策略性建议。然而，在职能政治化的背景下，维护常任文官制度的中立性与合法性，要求政治考量不得凌驾于专业判断之上，也不得妨碍其提供自由、坦诚且无畏的建议。尽管既有研究已记录了不同政治—行政体系中的常任文官体系内的职能政治化现象，但其行为意涵仍缺乏充分探讨。本研究基于对丹麦中央、地区和地方各级政府中901名担任管理职务的高级常任文官的调查发现，参与职能政治化任务与在感知到政治压力时更有可能修改或省略专业意见相关。然而，研究并未发现职能政治化与文官向上级表达关切的意愿之间存在显著关系，这表明他们提供自由、坦诚且无畏建议的能力仍然完好。
关键词
职能政治化、中立能力、回应能力、常任文官、政治压力、专业判断、建言行为、丹麦