Work

All the President's Men: Comparing the Secretary General of the French Presidency and the US Chief of Staff in an Era of Presidentialization

Year: 2024

Type: article

Abstract: This article compares the Secretary General of the Elysée Palace and the US Chief of Staff, central political advisors to the French and US presidents. Our aim is twofold. Firstly, we identify the precise roles of these advisors. By mapping their respective powers, we demonstrate their importance in presidential decision-making. By examining what the French Elysée Secretary General and the US White House Chief of Staff have in common and how they differ, we develop a comparative understanding of the mechanisms of the presidentialization of political executives. We show that the similarities of the two offices are linked to the ongoing presidentialization of the French and American political systems, which, by giving greater power to heads of state, also strengthens their advisors. This commonality does not rule out marked differences between these officials, demonstrating that presidentialization takes distinct forms, reflecting distinct political cultures as well as different balances of power within each institutional system.

Source: Government and Opposition

DOI: 10.1017/gov.2024.16

Authors: Vincent Martigny, B. Guy Peters

Institutions: Université Côte d'Azur, Équipe de Recherche sur les Mutations de l'Europe et de ses Sociétés, University of Pittsburgh

Language: English

Topic: Public Administration and Governance

Subfield: Political Science and International Relations

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

SDG: Peace, justice, and strong institutions

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $3,450