Recognizing the ‘interpretative turn insight’ that policy-making is an interactive process in which a lot of internal and external actors participate, this paper will analyze if the policy-making role of governmental policy-makers varies along differences in the organized setting of the policy context. More precisely I will study if the nature and the number of other participants - interest groups, politicians and civil servants from other policy domains- and their type of involvement determines the work and interactions of Flemish civil servants. This analysis will be made by using quantitative data that were gathered by means of a unique written survey among Flemish top civil servants and ministerial advisers. As the questionnaire counted questions about the policy context as well, the research design makes it possible to test the validity of hypotheses like ‘Civil servants have more tight relations with interest groups in corporatist networks than in pluralist networks.’ or ‘Civil servants have less/more contacts with members of Parliament whenever the degree of political conflict is low’. The paper will be structured as follows. First, I will elaborate the concept ‘policy-making role’. Using insights from authors like Meltsner (1976), Van de Graaf & Hoppe (1989) and Noordegraaf (2000) I discerned a lot of policy tasks and interactions based upon their purpose, content and/or direction. Next, I will sketch the design of the survey research and will list my hypotheses. Third the main results will be discussed. In the conclusion I will explain -by shedding a light upon the role differences between ministerial advisers and civil servants- why only few significant effects were found.
