The Machinery of Government

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In political theory, the traditional model of state power involves elected officials making policy decisions executed by public servants. However, the complexity of the modern state renders this model outdated, as many economic and social challenges require significant rule-making power to be delegated to civil servants. Despite this, political philosophers often overlook the crucial role of these "permanent" state officials, sometimes referred to as the "deep state," in liberal democracies. For instance, central banks operate independently, akin to supreme courts, yet they address a multitude of economic, social, and political issues. This raises questions about how these public servants make policy decisions and the normative principles guiding their judgments. Joseph Heath seeks to explore these questions by examining public administration practices and addressing normative issues. He aims to outline a "philosophy of the executive," acknowledging the political authority of this often-neglected branch of government. Heath provides a corrective to the tendency to underestimate civil servants' contributions to the success of liberal-democratic welfare states while offering a more comprehensive understanding of the principles underlying public administration.