Administrasjonsparadokset

Abstract

In this chapter, we discuss the consequences of what we have coined as the “administrative paradox”. The administrative paradox denotes the tensions that occurs when the normative expectation that political leaders should have a leading role in policy processes meets the practical reality that administrative actors are often the ones to set the political agenda. In the chapter, we discuss the modern-day relevance of classical ideas about the relation between politics and administration and, also, explore some recent attempts made by Norwegian municipalities to innovate political leadership in ways that affect this relation. A central theme in our discussion is the consequences of the so-called “hour-glass model” that describes a separation of politics and administration where the two spheres are joined through the roles of the mayor and the chief municipal executive. While the hour-glass model has had a profound impact on the organization of political and administrative leadership in Norwegian municipalities for close to three decades, we argue that the model is now due for a replacement. In its place, we suggest an alternative model that provides a more accurate description of how political leaders maintain a wider set of interfaces and that admits politicians a role also in the early phases of policy development. We have called this alternative model the “cogwheel-model”. In a brief and subsequent chapter, a Norwegian Chief Executive reflects on the interplay between politics and administration.

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