Politicization of Diplomacy: A Comparative Study of Ambassador Appointments

The aim of this paper is to explore explanations to the level of politicization of different countries’ diplomatic services. Research on the politicization of the civil service has primarily mapped to what extent this phenomenon occurs on a general level. Somewhat more focus has been placed on appointments of ministerial advisors and director generals, but overall, we know very little of specific branches of the civil service. The level of politicization is likely to vary depending on the different kinds of activities and tasks of the public agencies, however. Ambassadors, who are heads of diplomatic missions, are for example politicized to some extent in several countries. Partly, because governments want to have a firm control over how their interests are represented abroad, but also because these prestigious positions can be used as rewards to political supporters. Apart from the US, however, there are few studies that map the actual levels of politicization of ambassadors and none that compare these levels between different countries and administrative systems. Thus, this study sets out to compare the level of politicized appointments of ambassadors in 19 countries (Sweden, Denmark, Iceland, Germany, USA, UK, Romania, Spain, Moldavia, Venezuela, Costa Rica, South Africa, Mozambique, Botswana, India, New Zeeland, Russia, Uzbekistan, and Azerbaijan) in 2019. Based on this data, we expect to make an important contribution to previous knowledge of politico-administrative relations and administrative traditions.