Autonomy by Decree: How Administrative Law Shapes Bureaucratic Autonomy in Four Administrative Traditions

Administrative law is a not a frequent subject of research in public administration, but it can reveal a great deal about the functioning of the public sector and governance in general. The nature of administrative law is, we argue, closely linked with administrative traditions, and therefore administrative law is an especially apt focus for comparative analysis. This article discusses administrative law in four countries representing different administrative traditions. The perspective is that of the student of public governance, rather than that of the lawyer, with the principal concern here understanding bureaucratic autonomy within the administrative system.