Civil service systems in Western Europe

This book presents a comprehensive overview of the important issues in modern bureaucracies and provides a comparative analysis of the civil service systems of nine Western European nations; the United Kingdom, Ireland, Germany, Norway, Belgium, the Netherlands, France, Italy and Spain. In each chapter expert contributors examine a country-specific case study and employ a neo-institutional framework, combined with extensive empirical research, to emphasise the specific nature and development of civil service systems, paying special attention to the current features of each country's civil service.

The authors focus initially on the structural dimensions of civil service systems, which are explored through themes such as internal labour markets and reform and diffusion. The interface between civil service systems and their political and social environment is studied by analysing issues such as representatives, politicisation and public opinion, whilst the dynamic nature of civil service systems is emphasised by examining their historical development. The authors conclude by comparing the civil service systems discussed in the book, attempting to find parallels and variations between them and proposing possible explanations for the development of these similarities and differences.

This comprehensive book will prove popular with scholars and students of public administration, political science and international affairs as well as civil servants, politicians and policymakers.