Publication details
Anticipating illiberalism : drivers of bureaucratic turnover intention
| Authors | |
|---|---|
| Year of publication | 2026 |
| Type | Peer-reviewed scientific article |
| Magazine / Source | PUBLIC MONEY & MANAGEMENT |
| MU Faculty or unit | |
| Citation | |
| web | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/09540962.2025.2597951 |
| Doi | https://doi.org/10.1080/09540962.2025.2597951 |
| Keywords | Anticipatory politicization; bureaucratic resistance; civil servants; elections; illiberalism; populism; public service motivation (PSM); turnover intention |
| Attached files | |
| Description | When elections threaten to bring authoritarian populists or illiberal politicians to power, bureaucracies face uncertainty and stress that can prompt exit strategies. This article examines anticipatory politicization by analysing career bureaucrats’ turnover intentions on the eve of such political events. Drawing on an original survey of Slovak civil servants conducted shortly before the 2023 parliamentary elections, the authors investigated how public service motivation shapes these intentions. Turnover intention was driven primarily by anticipated value and integrity conflicts rather than policy disagreements. Importantly, highly motivated civil servants, who are typically expected to uphold democratic standards, are more likely to consider leaving before attempting voice, sabotage, or any other form of bureaucratic resistance. The results challenge the assumption that strong public service motivation enhances retention or fuels resistance: under illiberal threat, it may instead accelerate disillusionment and pre-emptive exit, weakening the bureaucracy’s capacity to act as a guardian of democracy. |
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