Semi-directive interviews with senior officials (1980)

Switzerland's senior officials constitute an elite not only because of their position at the top of the administrative hierarchy, but also for the fact that they often combine other elite attributes such as university education, social background and military officer rank. This social inclusion goes hand in hand with a political culture which, alongside some typical characteristics of the traditional liberal conception of democracy, has several elements of bureaucratic and/or neo-corporatist political culture. The aim of this survey is to paint a socio-political portrait of senior officials through some characteristics or sets of attributes and learn how they account for their choice after the decision is made to enter the service of the State. In addition, some members of cantonal governments were interviewed to gather their opinion on the qualities that high officials and politicians should possess.