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The Political Class in Advanced DemocraciesA Comparative Handbook$
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The Political Class in Advanced Democracies: A Comparative Handbook

Jens Borchert and Jürgen Zeiss

Print publication date: 2003

Print ISBN-13: 9780199260362

Published to Oxford Scholarship Online: January 2005

DOI: 10.1093/0199260362.001.0001

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Professional Politicians: Towards a Comparative Perspective

Professional Politicians: Towards a Comparative Perspective

Chapter:
(p.1) 1 Professional Politicians: Towards a Comparative Perspective
Source:
The Political Class in Advanced Democracies
Author(s):

Jens Borchert (Contributor Webpage)

Publisher:
Oxford University Press
DOI:10.1093/0199260362.003.0001

If we are to compare professional politicians in different political systems, we need a conceptual tool that enables us to study functionally equivalent structures and patterns of behaviour in vastly different institutional settings. This chapter argues that the concept of ‘political class’ is very much suited for that role. It goes on to look at different levels of political professionalization (individual, office, institutional, systemic). Setting the frame for the country chapters to follow, it outlines the historical pathway to political professionalism, the institutional context, the size of the political class, patterns of recruitment and political careers, the remuneration of politicians, and recent reform debates as the principal issues to be dealt with.

Keywords:   career paths, comparative perspective, institutional context, institutional reform, Max Weber, political class, professional politicians, professionalization, structure of opportunity

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