Complex Patterns of Interaction and Influence Among Political and Administrative Leaders

In this paper we describe the influence of Norwegian executive political and administrative leaders on salient policy issues, based on a structural, a culturalinstitutional and an exposure perspective. The data used are taken from a broad survey of elites conducted in 2000, focusing on undersecretaries of state, secretary generals and director generals in the ministries. The analysis reveals that political and administrative leaders are regarded as the most influential actors on salient policy issues. They are engaged in extensive and intensive inter- and intra-organizational contact networks. Their influence varies according to political-administrative contact pattern, internal administrative culture and external media exposure