Does Size Matter for the Relationship Between Politics and Administration?

ABSTRACT

Owing to public administrations' expansion of their roles in policy design and coordination, concerns about bureaucratic power have reemerged across democratic systems. However, little is known concerning how elected politicians experience and interpret administrative influence, particularly in local governments, in which administrative capacity often rivals political authority. This study examined how local politicians perceive administrative influence and how these perceptions vary across organizational scales and party affiliations. Using survey data from Norwegian municipal politicians, this study found that administrative influence is perceived as a normal, bounded aspect of governance, rather than bureaucratic domination. However, perceptions vary systematically by municipal size; politicians in larger municipalities report stronger administrative influence, reflecting greater specialization and delegation. These perceptions were further conditioned by political interpretations. Elite skeptical representatives evaluated administrative influence more negatively, particularly in larger jurisdictions, demonstrating how administrative power is institutionally structured and politically interpreted, offering insights relevant to governance systems globally.