000			02472cam a2200253 i 4500
020			_a9780198755715 (hbk.)
020			_a0198755716 (hbk.)
082	0	4	_a320.6
100	1		_aAlexiadou, Despina,
245	1	0	_aIdeologues, partisans, and loyalists :
250			_aFirst edition.
300			_axiv, 268 pages : _billustrations ;
505	0		_aIntroduction -- Theory -- Who are the ministers? -- Appointing ideologues, partisans, and loyalists -- Social welfare policies -- Employment policies -- Ireland -- The Netherlands -- Greece -- Conclusion.
520			_aFor the past thirty years scholars have debated the role of political parties in fiscal, monetary, and social welfare policies. Some argue that Social Democratic parties are more committed to advancing and maintaining welfare protection, while others claim that party ideology has ceased to explain parties' policy choices due to the constraining forces of economic globalization, deindustrialization, and electoral volatility. Indeed, the empirical findings in support of partisan arguments are mixed. Much of this rich literature treats political parties as uniform and cohesive entities when it comes to forming government policy. This work challenges this assumption and advances the argument that ideology and partisan policy preferences play a major role in policy choices, yet they are not necessarily observable at the government or even at the party level. Instead, we often need to look at the individual level -- particularly at the cabinet minister who is in charge of the policy in question to predict policy outcomes. This work innovatively argues that cabinet ministers can have very important policy role as policy agenda setters. Yet, not all ministers are equally effective policy-makers. Some make a difference, while others do not. Loyalists are loyal to their party leader and prioritize office over policy; partisans are party heavyweights and aspiring leaders; and ideologues have fixed policy ideas and are unwilling to compromise for the perks of holding office. Only ideologues and partisans can effectively change social welfare and labour market policy, above and beyond what their government mandates.
650		0	_aCabinet system.
650		0	_aCabinet officers.
650		0	_aPolicy sciences.
650		0	_aPolitical parties.
650		7	_aCabinet system
650		7	_aCabinet officers.
650		7	_aPolicy sciences.
650		7	_aPolitical parties.
942			_cBK
999			_c3770 _d3770