Is the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft a ‘Buffer Institution’ for Research in Germany?

On courtiers, panders and other Bodies intermediary1

“…They ranged from Research Councils (Mühlberg 1992) to Boards of Trustees (Wasser 1992) through to whole multi-campus university systems (Çagler and Johnston 1992). That so many bodies can claim the status of 'intermediary' is interesting.…”