Abstract

In this explorative study a more transparent picture is given about the organizational powers surrounding the Belgian federal government. The article focuses on organizations within three domains – the state, the corporate sector and the civic sector – and investigates which of them are in the best position to potentially influence the federal policymaking processes out of their relations with the state elite. Therefore a new measure for the political power of organizations within the federal policymaking processes is developed and presented. Next it is analysed from a ‘resource dependence perspective’ if the involved relations point to a political economical entanglement or to the aftereffects of a pillarized welfare state. I use data of 418 federal politicians and public servants which are connected to 1553 different organizations (Belgian Bulletin of Acts, Orders and Decrees, 12 August 2005). Variance analyses show that pillarization still plays a part within the federal political system.

How to Cite:

Van Maele, D., (2009) “De politiek-organisatorische machtsconfiguratie in België: relaties tussen maatschappelijke organisaties en de staatselite”, Tijdschrift voor Sociologie 30(2), 117–142. doi: https://doi.org/10.21825/sociologos.86728