Between the lines: unravelling the mechanisms of functional bureaucratic politicisation
Politicians and civil servants both play vital roles in shaping policy in democratic systems. Politicians set the course, while civil servants provide neutral expertise and advice. But what happens when civil servants become increasingly politicised? This question lies at the heart of this thesis, which maps out how various factors - such as populist leadership or a polarised political landscape - can push civil servants toward overly political behaviour.
Drawing on surveys and interviews with senior officials from several countries (Ireland, the Netherlands, Norway, and Spain), as well as a case study of the Dutch childcare benefits scandal (the Toeslagenaffaire), this study shows how officials begin to incorporate political dimensions instead of acting independently and apolitically. It identifies seven mechanisms that drive this shift, including anticipating political wishes, internalising political norms, blurring professional roles, remaining silent under pressure, responding to crisis narratives, using emotional or moral justifications, and navigating unclear instructions. Together, these mechanisms show how everyday routines and interpretations can gradually steer civil servants toward more political behaviour. This shift reveals that politicisation does not just occur through high-level political appointments, but also through the everyday choices, compromises, and silences of those working behind the scenes.