National administrative traditions reflect general patterns of administrative styles and structures which are strongly embedded in the macro-institutional context of the state tradition, the legal system, and the political-administrative system (including characteristics of the civil service as well as the state structure and organisation). As these macro-institutional factors vary considerably across the two countries under study, fundamental differences with respect to the core patterns of national administrative traditions can be observed.

Germany: consensual intervention within comprehensive structures

The traditional elements characterising administrative intervention and interest intermediation in Germany come closer to the ideal type of intervening rather than mediating administration, as is illustrated in particular by the dominant patterns of interventionism and legalism. On the other hand, the tradition of corporatism as well as the preference for consensual rather than adversarial interaction patterns between administrative and societal actors implies important departures from the interventionist ideal type specified in the previous chapter. With respect to the structural dimension, German administration is traditionally characterised by rather comprehensive and segmented arrangements which are not only shaped by the federal structure of the state, but also by long-standing traditions of hierarchical administrative organisation at the regional level.

The German state tradition: semi-sovereign authority

Although from a comparative perspective, Germany represents the Continental tradition of a ‘state-centred society’, the evolution of the German state followed a particular path.