The article was published on Italian Political Science can be accessed here.
Abstract
In recent times, technocratic transformations occurring in the governmental arena of European political systems have prompted growing scholarly interest. This study aims to contribute to this flourishing research agenda by examining the features of Italian technocratic ministers, the underpinnings of their government involvement, and the trajectories they have followed after ruling responsibility from 1948 to 2021. The main findings of the study show that: (a) there is a clear gendered pattern in technocratic appointments; (b) university professors are the most common professional category involved in technocratic appointments; (c) parties are gradually ceding core executive positions to technocratic ministers; (d) technocratic appointments are mainly driven by expertise-related considerations; (e) cases of technocratic ministerial reappointments are negligible; and (f) technocratic ministers take a formal political affiliation, or join top private or public companies after government participation.
Marco Improta (Napoli, 1995) è postdoctoral researcher presso l'Università di Siena. Ha conseguito il dottorato di ricerca in Politics presso la LUISS Guido Carli. È stato Visiting Research Fellow presso il Department of Political Science della Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Visiting PhD presso il Department of Politics and International Relations della University of Oxford e Visiting Researcher presso il Centro de Estudios Politicos y Constitucionales del Ministerio de la Presidencia, Governo di Spagna, Madrid. I suoi principali interessi di ricerca riguardano i governi e la rappresentanza politica in prospettiva comparata. Ha pubblicato articoli su riviste scientifiche internazionali e nazionali, tra cui West European Politics, Political Studies, Electoral Studies, Parliamentary Affairs, Journal of Legislative Studies, British Journal of Politics and International Relations, Mediterranean Politics, European Politics and Society, Rivista Italiana di Politiche Pubbliche, Quaderni di Scienza Politica, Italian Political Science, Journal of Contemporary European Research, Italian Journal of Electoral Studies. È inoltre autore di contributi pubblicati in volumi. È membro del CISE, del CIRCaP e di varie associazioni scientifiche nazionali e internazionali tra cui IPSA, MPSA, CES, SISP, SISE, ISPSA ed ECPR.
