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Yes Special Adviser. Political Advisers and Policy Making in a Global Perspective

Module description

This module provides you with an advanced introduction to the study of political advisers, also known as special advisers (SpAds) in the UK. You will learn about the political and policy work of political advisers in an internationally comparative perspective, using evidence from frontier research, as well as live accounts from practitioners, both advisers and civil servants. You will also learn to use the comparative method to draw insights about political advisers across different state and administrative traditions, over time and between the executive and legislative branch. The module will provide you with advanced knowledge and the necessary entry-level skills to be able to work at political advisory jobs in politics (parties; parliament; government; public affairs). The module is suitable for non-specialist students. Basic knowledge of the different political and administrative traditions across the world would be an asset, but not required. Experience with basic research methods/designs and extended essay writing at BA level is required.

Module aims - intentions of the module

The aim of this module is to teach you how to think about political advisers, but also how to be a competent entry level political adviser yourself. You will be introduced to the full conceptual and methodological knowledge and skills so as to critically engage with both scholarly research on the topic, as well as the practice of political advisers across countries and administrative traditions:

a) Anglo-American (Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, UK, USA);

b) Napoleonic (Belgium, France, Italy, Greece, Portugal);

c) European continental and Nordic (Denmark, Germany, Norway, Sweden and the Netherlands);

d) Supranational institutions (European Commission; European Parliament etc).

The module asks the following fundamental questions. Why did political advisers emerge as important third actors between politics and administration? Who are they, why are they appointed, what do they do and how do they influence the outcomes of public policy? Are they sources of greater political responsiveness, or are they unaccountable and incompetent dark princes? Do they bring added value to the technical expertise of civil servants, or do they enforce a dangerous retreat from civil service neutrality? Are they useful coordinators within complex policy advisory systems, or sources of constant friction at the top? Moreover, is there convergence, or divergence in the use and roles of political advisers across systems and why? In order to answer these questions you will learn to draw systematic inferences by using comparative research methods. You will also engage with hands-on practical adviser work within limited time frames. By the end of the module, you will be aware of the professional environment, skills and ethical values pertaining to the job of political adviser.    

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)

ILO: Module-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 1. Demonstrate an in-depth knowledge of the concepts and theories on political advisers and their policy making roles.
• 2. Apply the comparative method in order to explain and critically appraise the role of political advisers in policy making across countries over time.

ILO: Discipline-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 3. Find, use and critically analyse a range of material, including empirical and theoretical studies published in scientific journals, books and conference papers; policy reports and guidelines published by governments, administrations and international organisations; news and internet items.
• 4. Critically analyse both empirical and theoretical material by applying theoretical arguments to empirical case studies.

ILO: Personal and key skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 5. Communicate ideas effectively both formally during presentations and informally during class discussions.
• 6. Communicate ideas effectively in a given number of words in written form.
• 7. Work independently and in groups under tight time constraints.

Syllabus plan

Whilst the module’s precise content may vary from year to year, it is envisaged that the syllabus will cover the following main parts.

• INTRODUCTION
• PART I: Advisers and their institutional habitat
• PART II:  Advisers and policy making
• PART III: Advisers and their relationship with civil servants and politicians
• PART IV: Advisers and accountability
• CONCLUSION

Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)

Details of learning activities and teaching methods

Formative assessment

Summative assessment (% of credit)

Details of summative assessment

Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)

Indicative learning resources - Basic reading

The module is very reading intensive and you will need to go through a wide selection of internationally comparative, as well as single country, specialized scientific material on the topic of political advisers.

• Craft, J. (2016). Backrooms and Beyond: Partisan Advisers and the Politics of Policy Work in Canada. Toronto: University of Toronto Press.
• Eichbaum, C., & Shaw, R. (Eds.) (2010). Partisan appointees and public servants: An international analysis of the role of the political adviser. London: Edward Elgar.
• OECD (2011). Ministerial advisors: Role, influence and management. Paris: OECD Publishing.
• Landman, T. (2003), Issues and Methods in Comparative Politics. An Introduction, London: Routledge, pp. 3-59.
• Shaw, R. & Eichbaum, C. (Eds) (2018). Minders and Mandarins: An International Study of Relationships at the Executive Summit of Parliamentary Democracies. London: Edward Elgar.
• Yee-Fui Ng (2018). The Rise of Political Advisors in the Westminster System. Routledge.
• Yong, B. & Hazell, R. (2016). Special Advisers: Who they are, what they do and why they matter. Oxford and Portland, Oregon: Hart Publishing.
• Special issue: ‘Political Staff in Executive Government: Where the Shadows Run from Themselves’, International Journal of Public Administration https://www.tandfonline.com/toc/lpad20/38/1 
• Special issue: ‘Ministerial advisers in executive government’, in Public Administration ‘https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/toc/14679299/95/2

Key words search

Political advisers; ministerial advisers; special advisers; policy advisers; political-administrative relations; public service bargains; politician-adviser bargains; minister-adviser relations; prime ministerial advisers; MP assistants; politicization; cabinetization; policy advisory systems