SubsidieMeestersIlliberal Administrative Behaviour: exploring the implementation of illiberal policies and strategies for prevention
This project investigates illiberal administrative behavior among civil servants across 10 countries, aiming to define, measure, and mitigate its impact on liberal democracy.
Projectdetails
Introduction
Democracy is at risk, also from the inside. Today, some civil servants are mandated to implement illiberal policies, defined as those including anti-plural (discouraging dissent and promoting homogeneity) or anti-institutional values (rejecting separation or supervision of power). Civil servants who oppose these policies face severe criticism and replacement. Conversely, others may behave illiberally and comply with the implementation request.
Problem Statement
Since public bureaucracy is essential for effective governance, the question of whether civil servants will implement illiberal policies, thereby displaying illiberal administrative behaviour, arises. Yet, it is surprising how little we know about this behaviour, why it occurs, and how it can be prevented.
Project Objectives
To investigate these questions, this project:
- Defines and elaborates a conceptual map of illiberal administrative behaviour and empirically examines civil servants’ positions on it.
- Identifies the determinants of illiberal administrative behaviour.
- Examines how civil servants can align with liberal democratic values to reduce their likelihood of implementing illiberal policies.
Methodology
The empirical analysis focuses on 10 countries from 5 administrative traditions and implements an integrative multi-method approach combining panel surveys with different measurement strategies and experiments.
Contributions
The project breaks new ground in the study of illiberalism in public administration and offers fresh insights on the current crisis of liberal democracy.
Theoretical Contributions
Theoretically, it conceptualizes illiberal administrative behaviour, elucidating the conceptual underpinnings of this phenomenon.
Empirical Contributions
Empirically, it develops measurement tools for assessing illiberal administrative behaviour among civil servants, examines its primary determinants, and explores innovative mechanisms to counteract these processes.
Interdisciplinary Strategy
These contributions are developed by adopting an innovative interdisciplinary strategy.
Financiële details & Tijdlijn
Financiële details
| Subsidiebedrag | € 1.500.000 |
| Totale projectbegroting | € 1.500.000 |
Tijdlijn
| Startdatum | 1-10-2025 |
| Einddatum | 30-9-2030 |
| Subsidiejaar | 2025 |
Partners & Locaties
Projectpartners
- UNIVERSIDAD PUBLICA DE NAVARRApenvoerder
Land(en)
Vergelijkbare projecten binnen European Research Council
| Project | Regeling | Bedrag | Jaar | Actie |
|---|---|---|---|---|
MANUNKIND: Determinants and Dynamics of Collaborative ExploitationThis project aims to develop a game theoretic framework to analyze the psychological and strategic dynamics of collaborative exploitation, informing policies to combat modern slavery. | ERC STG | € 1.497.749 | 2022 | Details |
Elucidating the phenotypic convergence of proliferation reduction under growth-induced pressureThe UnderPressure project aims to investigate how mechanical constraints from 3D crowding affect cell proliferation and signaling in various organisms, with potential applications in reducing cancer chemoresistance. | ERC STG | € 1.498.280 | 2022 | Details |
The Ethics of Loneliness and SociabilityThis project aims to develop a normative theory of loneliness by analyzing ethical responsibilities of individuals and societies to prevent and alleviate loneliness, establishing a new philosophical sub-field. | ERC STG | € 1.025.860 | 2023 | Details |
Uncovering the mechanisms of action of an antiviral bacteriumThis project aims to uncover the mechanisms behind Wolbachia's antiviral protection in insects and develop tools for studying symbiont gene function. | ERC STG | € 1.500.000 | 2023 | Details |
MANUNKIND: Determinants and Dynamics of Collaborative Exploitation
This project aims to develop a game theoretic framework to analyze the psychological and strategic dynamics of collaborative exploitation, informing policies to combat modern slavery.
Elucidating the phenotypic convergence of proliferation reduction under growth-induced pressure
The UnderPressure project aims to investigate how mechanical constraints from 3D crowding affect cell proliferation and signaling in various organisms, with potential applications in reducing cancer chemoresistance.
The Ethics of Loneliness and Sociability
This project aims to develop a normative theory of loneliness by analyzing ethical responsibilities of individuals and societies to prevent and alleviate loneliness, establishing a new philosophical sub-field.
Uncovering the mechanisms of action of an antiviral bacterium
This project aims to uncover the mechanisms behind Wolbachia's antiviral protection in insects and develop tools for studying symbiont gene function.
Vergelijkbare projecten uit andere regelingen
| Project | Regeling | Bedrag | Jaar | Actie |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Education policies that work: A context-sensitive ‘big data’ approachEDUPOL conducts a comprehensive analysis of neoliberal and democratic educational policies' interplay to identify effective policy combinations for improving quality and equality in education. | ERC COG | € 1.930.120 | 2024 | Details |
Democracy, Autocracy, and International CooperationThis project aims to systematically analyze the complex relationship between regime type and international cooperation, employing a multi-method approach to generate new insights and policy relevance. | ERC ADG | € 2.499.939 | 2024 | Details |
Institutional Changes for Democratic DialogueThe project aims to reform constitutional structures to better align with contemporary democratic demands, fostering civic engagement and proposing institutional alternatives through collaborative dialogue. | ERC ADG | € 1.234.685 | 2023 | Details |
A social-bureaucratic history of the League of Nations SecretariatINNER_LEAGUE explores the social-bureaucratic history of the League of Nations Secretariat to reveal how its internal dynamics shaped modern multilateralism and international public administration. | ERC COG | € 2.000.000 | 2025 | Details |
Education policies that work: A context-sensitive ‘big data’ approach
EDUPOL conducts a comprehensive analysis of neoliberal and democratic educational policies' interplay to identify effective policy combinations for improving quality and equality in education.
Democracy, Autocracy, and International Cooperation
This project aims to systematically analyze the complex relationship between regime type and international cooperation, employing a multi-method approach to generate new insights and policy relevance.
Institutional Changes for Democratic Dialogue
The project aims to reform constitutional structures to better align with contemporary democratic demands, fostering civic engagement and proposing institutional alternatives through collaborative dialogue.
A social-bureaucratic history of the League of Nations Secretariat
INNER_LEAGUE explores the social-bureaucratic history of the League of Nations Secretariat to reveal how its internal dynamics shaped modern multilateralism and international public administration.