Original
Functional Politicization in Practice. From Responsive Competence to Reflexive Functional Politicization
Abstract
ABSTRACT This study addresses how senior civil servants navigate the tension between responsiveness and competence through functional politicization. Based on rich observational data (300 h) and interview material (42 interviews), the article theorizes how senior civil servants navigate this tension by providing advice that integrates political considerations with professional technical knowledge to challenge the minister, provide alternative solutions, and clarify consequences. I call this practice reflexive functional politicization and hereby contribute to the literature on politicization by conceptualizing how politicization is practiced by civil servants in action. Their practice is motivated by the conviction that true neutrality is rare or nonexistent and thus that they must instead strike a balance between political responsiveness and technical competence.
中文
实践中的功能性政治化：从回应性胜任力到反思性功能性政治化
摘要
摘要 本研究探讨高级文官如何通过功能性政治化来应对回应性与胜任力之间的张力。基于丰富的观察数据（300小时）和访谈材料（42次访谈），本文理论化了高级文官如何通过提供将政治考量与专业技术知识相结合的建议来应对这一张力，以质疑部长、提供替代方案并阐明后果。我将这一实践称为反思性功能性政治化，并据此对政治化文献作出贡献，将政治化概念化为文官在行动中的实践方式。他们的实践动机在于这样一种信念：真正的中立即便存在也极为罕见，因此他们必须在政治回应性与技术胜任力之间取得平衡。
关键词
功能性政治化、反思性功能性政治化、高级文官、政治回应性、技术胜任力、政治中立、文官-部长关系、定性研究