ABSTRACT
Bureaucratic politics occurs when bureaucrats, who are non-elected government officials, enter the political arena and try to influence or shape the policy-making process. In most cases, this process is characterized by conflict and bargaining as multiple actors vie for control of the same policy space. Most theories of bureaucratic politics portray bureaucrats as self-interested and self-serving individuals who steer policy decisions in directions that protect and advance their personal interests and those of their employing agencies.
