Original
Does Size Matter for the Relationship Between Politics and Administration?
Abstract
ABSTRACT Owing to public administrations' expansion of their roles in policy design and coordination, concerns about bureaucratic power have reemerged across democratic systems. However, little is known concerning how elected politicians experience and interpret administrative influence, particularly in local governments, in which administrative capacity often rivals political authority. This study examined how local politicians perceive administrative influence and how these perceptions vary across organizational scales and party affiliations. Using survey data from Norwegian municipal politicians, this study found that administrative influence is perceived as a normal, bounded aspect of governance, rather than bureaucratic domination. However, perceptions vary systematically by municipal size; politicians in larger municipalities report stronger administrative influence, reflecting greater specialization and delegation. These perceptions were further conditioned by political interpretations. Elite skeptical representatives evaluated administrative influence more negatively, particularly in larger jurisdictions, demonstrating how administrative power is institutionally structured and politically interpreted, offering insights relevant to governance systems globally.
中文
规模对政治与行政关系是否重要？
摘要
摘要 由于公共行政在政策设计与协调中的角色不断扩展，民主体制中关于官僚权力的担忧再次浮现。然而，民选政治人物如何体验和解读行政影响力，尤其是在行政能力常与政治权威相匹敌的地方政府中，人们知之甚少。本研究考察了地方政治人物如何看待行政影响力，以及这些认知如何随组织规模与政党归属而变化。基于挪威市镇政治人物的调查数据，本研究发现，行政影响力被视为治理中一种正常且有边界的方面，而非官僚支配。然而，认知因市镇规模而存在系统性差异；较大市镇的政治人物报告了更强的行政影响力，这反映了更高程度的专业化与授权。这些认知还进一步受到政治解读的制约。持怀疑态度的精英代表对行政影响力的评价更为负面，尤其是在较大的辖区中，这表明行政权力在制度上被结构化，并在政治上被解读，为全球治理体系提供了相关启示。
关键词
政治—行政关系、行政影响力、地方政府、市镇规模、官僚权力、政党归属、挪威、政治人物认知