Exploring mid-level bureaucracy: a tentative typology

Abstract

The paper’s main goal is to present an original typology of bureaucrats, situated in intermediate layer of the civil service structure. This specific set of players, the mid-level bureaucrat (MLB), is seen as a strategic group, primarily, because of its connection role and position between the top officials and the policy executors. Despite their relevance and well-known heterogeneity, few studies have explored this diversity and the effects in the policymaking. In order to fulfill this gap and deepen the understanding of the MLBs, this article proposes a typology that includes crucial dimensions, such as profile, background and performance, and, thus, empirically confirms the heterogeneity assumption in the Brazilian federal civil service.