Greek Ministerial Advisers: Policy Managers, Not Experts?

Abstract

This article investigates the policy-making role of Greek ministerial advisers. This is achieved by classifying those actors using typologies developed in empirical studies of political staff in Westminster systems, according to policy roles, nature and dimension of policy advice activities, and the policy cycle. This small N comparative study locates the Greek ministerial adviser in the ministerial cabinet tradition and argues that this agent fits best the role of a coordinator and policy manager, who vertically steers policy and networks with other political staff across a fragmented executive core government.