The Neo-Weberian state in Italy

In recent years, Italy has become a privileged observatory for analyzing the Neo-Weberian State (NWS), an administrative model combining traditional Weberian elements with new managerial approaches. Initially conceived as a response to the limitations of traditional bureaucracies, this system views hierarchy as the main coordination mechanism, along with a moderate integration of market and network elements. The NWS model is thus proposed as a balance between administrative efficiency and democratic values, centering on the role of law and democratic representation. In the Italian context, the NWS emerges as a resilient yet permeable structure, put to test by populist influences, supranational demands, and technological challenges.

Resilience without resistance: bureaucracy in the face of populist governments

One crucial aspect highlighted by the study “The Neo-Weberian State in Italy: Understanding the Influence of Populist Government, EU Administrative Reform Support Policy, and Digitalization” by Edoardo Ongaro (PuLSE, The Open University) and Greta Nasi (Bocconi University), published in the Journal of Policy Studies, is the “resilience without resistance” of Italian bureaucracy in the face of populist governments. The bureaucracy has shown strong adaptability, maintaining its status and privileges without actively opposing anti-democratic or populist tendencies. However, this resilience did not translate into an active defense of democratic principles.

A concrete example of this adaptability was observed during the populist governments from 2018 to 2020. During this period, despite attempts to politicize the bureaucracy and a rhetorical insistence on “capturing” public administration to fulfill the “people’s” agenda, the bureaucratic structure remained mostly unchanged. Greta Nasi explains, “The bureaucracy managed to preserve its status and power, but this did not result in an active defense of democratic principles or substantial resistance to populist governments.” This demonstrates that while the NWS model offers stability, it is not in itself sufficient to protect liberal democracy without a strong constitutional and political framework.

The influence of the European Union: a decisive support for reforms

Italy’s membership in the European Union has played a significant role in shaping the evolution of the Italian NWS. The European Commission has promoted an administrative model reflecting NWS principles, aiming to strengthen national bureaucracies and encourage more efficient, citizen-oriented administration. A notable example of this influence is the introduction of the “National Recovery and Resilience Plan” (PNRR), which imposes standards of transparency, accountability, and efficiency—key elements of the Neo-Weberian State.

European funds, for instance, have been used for judicial system reforms and public service digitalization, such as the civil justice reform designed to drastically reduce processing times through more efficient digitalization and hierarchical organization. For Greta Nasi, the EU's role in these processes “demonstrates how the European Union can act as a catalyst for evolution towards the Neo-Weberian model, although local adaptability remains necessary.”

The challenge of digital transformation: network and hierarchy

One of the main challenges for the NWS model is the digitalization of administrative processes. Italy began a digital governance process in 2016, which went through various phases and progressively integrated Neo-Weberian principles. Initially, between 2016 and 2018, digital initiatives followed a network model: the Italian Digital Transformation Team, led by Diego Piacentini, a manager from the private sector, promoted collaboration between central and local administrations for projects like the IO application, which facilitates citizen interaction with public administration.

With a shift towards a more hierarchical approach in 2020, digital coordination was moved under the Prime Minister’s Office. This new phase has seen centralized control and direct responsibility from the government, consistent with the hierarchical NWS model, reflecting the need for a stable public administration oriented towards achieving goals. Nasi adds, “Digitalization has brought profound changes and significant challenges, showing how important it is to adapt the NWS model to manage technological transformation.”

A resilient bureaucracy, but not always enough to protect democracy

The Italian experience suggests that the NWS model may look considerably flexible and adaptable, but also that it cannot automatically protect a democratic state in situations of political or populist tension. Bureaucratic resilience, supported by supranational influences like the EU and digitalization, provides essential support, but only when accompanied by a robust regulatory framework and political actors committed to safeguarding democracy.

The Italian case thus becomes an example of the strengths and limitations of the Neo-Weberian model: a governance tool that, although adaptable, requires a solid political framework to ensure democratic stability and progress.