Minister–civil servant friction: A comparative analysis of political–administrative cohesion
Author(s): Badal Karmakar
Abstract: The friction between ministers and IAS officers is a worldwide phenomenon, and this friction stems from the degree of neutrality and impartiality a country is cultured with. The higher the degree of administrative neutrality and impartiality the more chances of friction between the civil servants and ministers are there. Whenever some higher civil servant finds some minister or an MP interfering with some matter in his administrative area, the duel starts between the two. The MP believes that the area belongs to his constituency and an IAS officer or a deputy commissioner argues that the area belongs to the administrative area of which he is in charge. Often, such friction ends with the transfer of the IAS officers if the MP or minister belongs to an influential party in power. Apart from America and China, almost all countries of the world have the culture of political neutrality and impartiality of the civil services. Earlier, America had the tradition of the spoil system; that is, the posts of higher civil services were stuffed by the supporters of the party that came to power and these administrative cadres were to vacate the posts when another party came to power in the next election. Though the spoil system is no more in America, the tradition of the political appointment of higher civil servants is still there to some extent. Therefore, where there is less division in politics and administration, there is less chance of friction between the civil servants and ministers because the higher officers themselves are political appointees in this case.
Badal Karmakar. Minister–civil servant friction: A comparative analysis of political–administrative cohesion. Int J Political Sci Governance 2025;7(12):34-38. DOI: 10.33545/26646021.2025.v7.i12a.771
