From the Managerial State to the Guardian State

Studies of democratic backsliding have focused primarily on the moral aspects of the consequences of the rise of populism in politics. Now that democratic backsliding has become a real threat to the continuity and survival of liberal democracies we need to reconsider the Weberian ideal as the most desired role conception for the bureaucracy. The capability to relate oneself to illiberal governments has hence become more important for civil servants. The paper thus therefore explores a theoretical and ethical position a new role for career civil servants in government institutions who have come under the threat of illiberal populist rule that seeks to roll back institutions, and backslide on values and practices safeguarding democratic responsiveness, minority rights, accountability, transparency and due process. We believe that ‘guardianship’ within an concept of a Guardian state can become a viable model for civil servants to play a pro-active role in the defense of democratic values and procedures. Such a concept raises complex issues of what impartiality and loyalty means in the context of populism and how this alternative public sector ethos of guardianship can be justified.