Verwaltung und Gewaltenteilung im Vormärz

Niels Hegewisch addresses the question to which extent public administration should be granted political influence. He points out that the separation-of-powers doctrine offers two conflicting normative assessments. A politically influential public administration can be perceived as protecting as well as endangering the citizens’ freedom. Hegewisch depicts both arguments from a history-of-ideas perspective by analysing early nineteenth century German thought.
The book develops two opposing perceptions of the public servant: either as a necessary evil that needs to be constricted as far as possible or as a welcomed complement to the legitimised political actors. The historical analysis is connected to contemporary debates. Hegewisch argues for a further development of the separation-of-powers doctrine that includes the practice of a politically influential public administration.