(1998) as a starting point, but then adjusted and deepened the approach. In so doing, we considered the new realities of a significantly more globalized world and evolving global norms and principles that increasingly influence civil servants and civil service systems, as well as new literature on socialization. The response typology proposed in Chapter 1 and summarized earlier in this chapter reflects both these features by taking into account the bureaucratic accountability (institutional dimension) and depth of socialization of civil servants (behavioural
This volume analyses the impact of globalization on civil service systems across the Middle East and North Africa.
A collaboration between practitioners and academic public policy experts, it presents an analytical model to assess how globalization influences civil servants, illustrated by case studies of countries where there has been an increased engagement with international actors. It demonstrates how this increased interaction has altered the position of civil servants and traces the shifting patterns of power and accountability between civil servants, politicians and other actors.
It is an original and important addition to debate about globalization’s role in transnational public administration and governance.
This wide-ranging edited volume provides a state of the art account of theory and research on modern street-level bureaucracy, gathering internationally acclaimed scholars to address the varying roles of public officials who fulfill their tasks while interacting with the public. These roles include the delivery of benefits and services, the regulation of social and economic behavior, and the expression and maintenance of public values.
Questions about the extent of discretionary autonomy and the feasibility of hierarchical control are discussed in depth, with suggestions made for the further development of research in this field. Hence the book fills an important gap in the literature on public policy delivery, making it a valuable text for students and researchers of public policy, public administration and public management.
The global open government movement is the most recent new dimension of globalization that influences national governance systems and civil servants. This chapter examines the impact of key aspects of the movement, such as access to information, Open Data, and participatory policy making, on civil servants. The response typology proposed in Chapter 1 is tested within this dimension. The conclusion of this chapter is that this is the dimension of globalization that has the strongest potential to generate change in civil servants, as it directly addresses traditionally closed and non-transparent civil service traditions. At the same time, while many of the civil servants interviewed expressed adherence to the principles underlying the open government movement, very few were willing to uphold these actively when tested. This is therefore the dimension of globalization where the gap between formal adherence to values and actual behaviour remains the widest. It is also the dimension where civil servants remain closest to the traditional civil servant typology.
The first dimension of globalization discussed is the global push for performance, which is driven by rankings and ratings on global performance indicators related to economic governance. The chapter examines, through a vignette-based research method, how civil servants respond to global performance pressures. The response typology set out in Chapter 1 was tested in this way on this first critical dimension of globalization. The review of evidence emerging from the literature and from in-depth interviews with senior officials shows a general adherence to the principle of performance and competition (on global indicators), and a growing interest in evidence-based policy making among civil servants. Improved performance on global indicators is associated with the public and national interest. On this basis, a more professional and engaged civil service type is emerging in most of the focus countries, and in some cases, rebel behaviour is also observed.
A review of the literature on the impact of global norms and principles on national governance systems shows the limited attention given to the role of civil servants in the interaction between global actors and nation states. To allow for a deeper analysis of this important research topic, this chapter sets out a new analytical framework and typology of how civil servants respond to global influence. Based on a review of academic research on the drivers of civil servants’ responses to external influence, the model focuses on two key parameters: bureaucratic accountability and socialization. Based on these parameters, four response types are expected to emerge: the traditional, professional, engaged, and rebel civil servant. The chapter also discusses transmission channels (global performance indicators, direct engagement with international actors, and global norms on freedom of information and participation) and institutional and behavioural filters of global influence. Finally, it lays out and discusses the research methodology used in the study on which this book is based, with particular attention given to the design and use of explorative vignettes as an innovative research method.
Civil Servants and Globalization brings together insights on how globalization influences senior civil servants, with a focus on MENA countries. This book builds a typology of civil servants’ responses to globalization: traditional, professional, engaged, and rebel types of civil servants. The response model proposed by the authors uses bureaucratic accountability and socialization as two critical parameters. The approach is tested on three dimensions of globalization – the global push for performance, engagement through development support, and global open government movement – in four focus countries from the MENA region – Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, and Tunisia. Based on new data gathered through vignette techniques and in-depth interviews with senior civil servants, this book offers new insights on how globalization affects civil servants and what factors determine, enhance, or reduce its impact. Among the key findings are the following: First, civil servants across countries have become more professional and are more likely to utilize evidence-based approaches to persuade politicians to safeguard national interest. The emphasis on performance and accountability (via international performance indicator systems) is a disrupter of and accelerator towards performance management and evidence-based policy making, leading to the emergence of the engaged and, in some cases, rebel types of civil servant. Second, deepened direct engagement with international actors contributes to the socialization of international norms, and contributes to a shift towards civil service professionalization. Finally, there is overall agreement on values associated with indices across the countries, though less so with transparency and participation. Thus, while the global movement towards open government has the strong potential to influence civil servants and civil service systems, a shift towards the internalization of more inclusive and transparent decision making has not yet occurred in the countries under review. On this aspect, a more traditional response type continues to predominate.
Civil Servants and Globalization brings together insights on how globalization influences senior civil servants, with a focus on MENA countries. This book builds a typology of civil servants’ responses to globalization: traditional, professional, engaged, and rebel types of civil servants. The response model proposed by the authors uses bureaucratic accountability and socialization as two critical parameters. The approach is tested on three dimensions of globalization – the global push for performance, engagement through development support, and global open government movement – in four focus countries from the MENA region – Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, and Tunisia. Based on new data gathered through vignette techniques and in-depth interviews with senior civil servants, this book offers new insights on how globalization affects civil servants and what factors determine, enhance, or reduce its impact. Among the key findings are the following: First, civil servants across countries have become more professional and are more likely to utilize evidence-based approaches to persuade politicians to safeguard national interest. The emphasis on performance and accountability (via international performance indicator systems) is a disrupter of and accelerator towards performance management and evidence-based policy making, leading to the emergence of the engaged and, in some cases, rebel types of civil servant. Second, deepened direct engagement with international actors contributes to the socialization of international norms, and contributes to a shift towards civil service professionalization. Finally, there is overall agreement on values associated with indices across the countries, though less so with transparency and participation. Thus, while the global movement towards open government has the strong potential to influence civil servants and civil service systems, a shift towards the internalization of more inclusive and transparent decision making has not yet occurred in the countries under review. On this aspect, a more traditional response type continues to predominate.
Civil Servants and Globalization brings together insights on how globalization influences senior civil servants, with a focus on MENA countries. This book builds a typology of civil servants’ responses to globalization: traditional, professional, engaged, and rebel types of civil servants. The response model proposed by the authors uses bureaucratic accountability and socialization as two critical parameters. The approach is tested on three dimensions of globalization – the global push for performance, engagement through development support, and global open government movement – in four focus countries from the MENA region – Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, and Tunisia. Based on new data gathered through vignette techniques and in-depth interviews with senior civil servants, this book offers new insights on how globalization affects civil servants and what factors determine, enhance, or reduce its impact. Among the key findings are the following: First, civil servants across countries have become more professional and are more likely to utilize evidence-based approaches to persuade politicians to safeguard national interest. The emphasis on performance and accountability (via international performance indicator systems) is a disrupter of and accelerator towards performance management and evidence-based policy making, leading to the emergence of the engaged and, in some cases, rebel types of civil servant. Second, deepened direct engagement with international actors contributes to the socialization of international norms, and contributes to a shift towards civil service professionalization. Finally, there is overall agreement on values associated with indices across the countries, though less so with transparency and participation. Thus, while the global movement towards open government has the strong potential to influence civil servants and civil service systems, a shift towards the internalization of more inclusive and transparent decision making has not yet occurred in the countries under review. On this aspect, a more traditional response type continues to predominate.
in their business and funding models. These and other scholars have proposed various typologies of organisational responses to austerity. For example, Milbourne and Cushman (2015) put forward a response typology based on organisations ‘complying, resisting or transforming’ the new-austerity experience; and Lyall and Bua (2015) similarly suggested a typology based on ‘adapting’ to austerity, ‘challenging’ the logic and normative nature of austerity, and ‘imagining’ and championing alternative narratives to austerity. While these typologies make important
