ABSTRACT
Scholars of organizational behaviour have shown how the stage of initial formation affects the development of organizations. The early traits of an organization, the way the structure of power takes shape at the beginning, the main dimensions of organizational institutionalization are 'congealed' and this imprinting marks further development. The chapter assesses the usefulness of technocracy by sticking to its original interpretation and then explores the more recent conceptualizations of the European Union (EU) policy process by contrasting them with technocracy. EU governance is based on the direct participation of affected interests in policy networks. A significant characteristic of the making of European public policy is the presence of bureaucratic politics. Epistemic communities have power only when they are organically inserted into the policy process. The presence of coalitions competing in functional areas and the role of uncertainty suggest that the EU policy process can be analysed by using the advocacy coalition framework developed by P. A. Sabatier.
