Undergraduate Module Descriptor

POL3273: Dark Masters? Political Advisers in Modern Democracies

This module descriptor refers to the 2022/3 academic year.

Indicative Reading List

This reading list is indicative - i.e. it provides an idea of texts that may be useful to you on this module, but it is not considered to be a confirmed or compulsory reading list for this module.

  • Blick, A. (2004). People who Live in the Dark: The History of the Special Adviser in British Politics. London: Politico’s/Methuen.
  • Shaw, R. & Eichbaum, C. (Eds) (2018). Minders and Mandarins: An International Study of Relationships at the Executive Summit of Parliamentary Democracies. London: Edward Elgar.
  • Yong, B. & Hazell, R. (2016). Special Advisers: Who they are, what they do and why they matter. Oxford and Portland, Oregon: Hart Publishing.

Further fundamental texts

  • Craft, J. (2016). Backrooms and Beyond: Partisan Advisers and the Politics of Policy Work in Canada. Toronto: University of Toronto Press.
  • Eichbaum, C., & Shaw, R. (Eds.) (2010). Partisan appointees and public servants: An international analysis of the role of the political adviser. London: Edward Elgar.
  • Eymeri-Douzans, Bioy, X., & Mouton, S. (2015a). Le règne des entourages. Cabinets et conseillers de l’exécutif. Paris: Presses de Sciences Po
  • OECD (2011). Ministerial advisors: Role, influence and management. Paris: OECD Publishing.
  • Yee-Fui Ng (2018). The Rise of Political Advisors in the Westminster System. Routledge.
  • Tiernan, A. (2007) Power Without Responsibility? Ministerial staffers in Australian governments from Whitlam to Howard. Sydney: UNSW Press.
  • Special issue: ‘Political Staff in Executive Government: Where the Shadows Run from Themselves’, International Journal of Public Administrationhttps://www.tandfonline.com/toc/lpad20/38/1 
  • Special issue: ‘Ministerial advisers in executive government’, in Public Administration‘https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/toc/14679299/95/2