Universität zu Köln

Semenova, Elena ORCID: 0000-0001-7044-2259, Dowding, Keith, Kaiser, André ORCID: 0000-0001-6633-2452 and Di Biagio, Alessandro ORCID: 0009-0009-9087-2526 (2025). Do citizens approve of technocrats? Analyzing attitudes toward technocrats in thirty-one European democracies 1999–2021. Comparative European Politics, 23 (6). pp. 1122-1141. Springer Nature. ISSN 1472-4790

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Abstract

This study examines citizens’ attitudes toward technocratic ministers in European democracies. While previous research has focused on either the supply-side factors driving technocratic appointments or individual-level determinants of public support, this paper bridges these disconnected literatures through a multi-method approach. Using a novel dataset on technocratic ministers, we employ latent class analysis to identify two distinct environments: “Low technocratic” (few, sporadic technocratic appointments) and “High technocratic” environments (numerous and persistent technocratic appointments). Analysis of European Value Survey data (1999–2021) reveals that citizens in “High technocratic” environments demonstrate significantly higher support for technocrats. Contrary to prevailing theories, economic conditions and technocrats holding finance portfolios do not affect public perception. However, growing perceptions of executive corruption substantially increase public support for technocrats. These findings challenge existing explanations of technocratic appeal and suggest that institutional familiarity with technocratic governance, rather than economic performance, shapes public attitudes toward expert rule in democratic systems.

Item Type:	Article
Creators:	Creators Email ORCID ORCID Put Code Semenova, Elena UNSPECIFIED https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7044-2259 UNSPECIFIED Dowding, Keith UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Kaiser, André UNSPECIFIED https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6633-2452 UNSPECIFIED Di Biagio, Alessandro UNSPECIFIED https://orcid.org/0009-0009-9087-2526 UNSPECIFIED
URN:	urn:nbn:de:hbz:38-801928
Identification Number:	10.1057/s41295-025-00439-2
Journal or Publication Title:	Comparative European Politics
Volume:	23
Number:	6
Page Range:	pp. 1122-1141
Number of Pages:	20
Date:	8 December 2025
Publisher:	Springer Nature
ISSN:	1472-4790
Language:	English
Faculty:	Faculty of Management, Economy and Social Sciences
Divisions:	Faculty of Management, Economics and Social Sciences > Social Sciences > Political Science > Cologne Center for Comparative Politics
Subjects:	Social sciences Political science
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Keywords Language Public opinion ; Technocracy ; Governance ; Technocratic ministers ; Economic crisis ; Eastern Europe English
['eprint_fieldname_oa_funders' not defined]:	Publikationsfonds UzK
Refereed:	Yes
URI:	http://kups.ub.uni-koeln.de/id/eprint/80192