Comparing cabinets : dilemmas of collective government / Patrick Weller, Dennis Grube, R. A. W. Rhodes.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Weller, Patrick Moray, author.

Rhodes, R. A. W., author.

Grube, Dennis, author.

Series:

Oxford scholarship online.

Oxford scholarship online

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Cabinet system.

Representative government and representation.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (288 pages) : illustrations (black and white).

Edition:

First edition.

Place of Publication:

New York, New York : Oxford University Press, [2021]

Summary:

Why is cabinet government so resilient? Why does it continue to be the vehicle for governing across most parliamentary systems? 'Comparing Cabinets' examines the structure and performance of cabinet government in five democracies, with a particular focus on the influence of differing traditions, beliefs, and practices, to address these questions.

Contents:

Cover

Comparing Cabinets: Dilemmas of Collective Government

Copyright

Acknowledgements

Contents

List of Figures and Tables

Figures

Tables

List of Abbreviations

1: Understanding Cabinet Government

What Is 'Cabinet Government'?

Theoretical Approaches

Constitutionalist

Institutionalist

The Core Executive

Networks

The Interpretivist Approach

Situated Agency

Court Government

Dilemmas as Plausible Conjectures

The Process Dilemma: Predictability vs. Political Imperatives

The Policy Dilemma: Puzzling vs. Political Risk

The Political Dilemma: Self-Interestvs. Cohesion

The Leadership Dilemma: Command vs. Persuasion

The Accountability Dilemma: Maintaining Support vs. Making Unpopular Decisions

Summary

Approach and Methods

The Country Selection

Part I: National Traditions, Myths, and Practices

2: The United Kingdom: Traditions and Practices

Traditions

Cabinet

Prime Minister

Practices and Processes

Ministers

Confidentiality

Practices

Conclusion

3: Australia: Traditions and Practices

Cabinet Government

Prime Ministers and Ministers

4: The Netherlands: Traditions and Practices

Context

The Civil Service

5: Denmark: Traditions and Practices

State-Civil Society Relations

Practices: The Duopoly

6: Switzerland: Traditions and Practices

The Federal Council

Collective Responsibility

Practices and Procedures

Understanding the Consensus

Federal President

The Federal Council, Parties, Parliament, and People

Part II: Dilemmas of Cabinet Government.

7: The Process Dilemma: Predictability vs. Political Imperatives?

Interpreting Rules, Conventions, Norms, and Expectations

The Role of Conventions and Rules

Handbooks, Manuals, and Other 'Rules' for Cabinet

Schedules and Forums

Coping with Dilemmas

Predictability and Due Process

Negotiating the Disagreements

No Surprises

8: The Policy Dilemma: Puzzling vs. Political Risk

Bureaucracy: Evidence-BasedPolicy vs. Partisan Pressures

Ministers: Balancing Policy with Politics

Special Advisers: Managing the Politics

A Process within a Process

9: The Political Dilemma: Self-Interest vs. Cohesion

Political Prudence

Cabinet Politics in Majoritarian Governments

Cabinet Politics in Coalition Cabinets

Cabinet Politics: No Coalition Agreement

10: The Leadership Dilemma: Command vs. Persuasion

How to Survive: Leadership and Vulnerability

Managing Colleagues: Leading the Ministers

Managing the Processes: Agenda Setting and Practices

Expanding Responsibilities

Support for Prime Ministers and/or Cabinet

Central Agencies and Political Staff

Central Agencies

Political Advisers

Conclusion: The Changing Position of Prime Ministers and Presidents

11: The Accountability Dilemma: Maintaining Support vs. Making Unpopular Decisions

Dilemma One: Collective Accountability vs. Individual Accountability

Dilemma Two: Blame Games and How to Avoid Them

Dilemma Three: Success and Failure

Conclusion: In Search of Collective Accountability

12: Conclusion: Cabinet Government's Open Secrets: Flexibility and Resilience

Empirical Comparisons

Traditions of Continuity or Disruption

Party Alignments

Accountability to Parliament

Stability

The Lessons of Comparison

Theory Revisited

Resilience and Practice.

Conclusion: Working Myths

References

Name Index

Subject Index.

Notes:

This edition also issued in print: 2021.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Description based on print version record.

ISBN:

0-19-258351-4

0-19-188031-0

0-19-258350-6

OCLC:

1267765641