ABSTRACT
Those holding senior civil service positions may be defined as elite in that they occupy formally defined positions of authority while heading powerful institutions (Giddens 1972). According to Max Weber, the power of this elite derives from its legitimate authority based on hierarchical position and competence in meritocratic institutions: candidates should be recruited to civil service on the basis of their educational achievements and be promoted to more senior positions on the basis of the quality of their work in office (Weber 1992 [1922]). Those occupying the top positions in public administration should hence be the very best. However, if these people have reached their positions of power through a meritocratic selection system, what kind of knowledge and which skills are they supposed to excel in? Is it simply a question of putting the best in command and letting expertise serve the democratically elected politicians? Is the same kind of expertise required in all countries?
