Stephanie Andrey

Bio: Stephanie Andrey is an academic researcher. The author has contributed to research in topics: Multilingualism & Public service. The author has an hindex of 2, co-authored 2 publications receiving 19 citations.

Vers une bureaucratie représentative. La promotion de la représentation et de la diversité linguistiques dans l'administration fédérale en Suisse et au Canada

Abstract: Resume. Sous l'angle du concept de bureaucratie representative, le present article compare la gestion des enjeux lies a la participation des differentes communautes linguistiques dans l'administration publique de deux Etats multilingues : le Canada et la Suisse. A la suite de la mobilisation politique autour du clivage linguistique, des strategies de promotion du plurilinguisme ont ete adoptees dans les deux pays. La strategie canadienne mise sur l'egalite de traitement des fonctionnaires anglophones et francophones. La Suisse poursuit quant a elle l'objectif de la representation des differentes communautes linguistiques dans la fonction publique. Ces differences de fond s'expliquent, entre autres, par la nature du regime linguistique en place et par le contexte de democratie consociationnelle en Suisse. La participation proportionnelle des communautes linguistiques au sein de l'administration federale est globalement atteinte dans les deux pays. Cependant, au niveau du fonctionnement interne, une logique de rationalite linguistique exerce une pression sur les groupes minoritaires pour qu'ils adoptent la langue majoritaire.Abstract. Drawing on the concept of representative bureaucracy, this article examines how two multi-lingual states—Canada and Switzerland—deal with issues related to the participation of different linguistic communities in the federal public service. Following a political mobilisation of the linguistic cleavage, strategies to promote multilingualism in the public service have been adopted in both countries. The Canadian strategy focuses on equal treatment of Anglophones and Francophones in the public service. In Switzerland, adequate representation of the linguistic communities is the primary goal. These differences are explained by the characteristics of the linguistic regimes in each of the two countries, as well as by the peculiarities of consociational democracy in Switzerland. In both countries, the linguistic origins of public administration staff, overall, mirrors the proportions of the linguistic communities in the wider society. Within administrative units, however, linguistic diversity is hampered by the logics of language rationality, where minorities are under pressure to communicate in the language of the majority.

Towards a Representative Bureaucracy: Promoting Linguistic Representation and Diversity in the Swiss and Canadian Federal Public Services

Abstract: Drawing on the concept of representative bureaucracy, this article examines how two multilingual states – Canada and Switzerland – deal with issues related to the participation of different linguistic communities in the federal public service. Following a political mobilization of the linguistic cleavage, strategies to promote multilingualism in the public service have been adopted in both countries. The Canadian strategy focuses on equal treatment of Anglophones and Francophones in the public service. In Switzerland, adequate representation of the linguistic communities is the primary goal. These differences are explained by the characteristics of the linguistic regimes in each of the two countries as well as by the peculiarities of consociational democracy in Switzerland. In both countries, the linguistic origins of public administration staff, overall, mirrors the proportions of the linguistic communities in the wider society. Within administrative units, however, linguistic diversity is hampered by the logics of language rationalization, where minorities are under pressure to communicate in the language of the majority.

The Politics of Representative Bureaucracy in Multilingual States: A Comparison of Belgium, Canada and Switzerland

Abstract: The role of the public service in managing territorial diversity has too often been overlooked in the literature on multilingual states. In the article, we explore the issue of bureaucratic representation of the federal public administration of Belgium, Canada and Switzerland, three economically advanced federal states in which language has become over time the dominant cultural marker and dividing line. We argue that variations observed in mechanisms of bureaucratic representation can be explained by differences in the configuration of two variables: discourse about the contours of the political community and how it has been channelled through the policy-making process of each country.

Enjeux du plurilinguisme à l'administration fédérale : la représentativité à l'épreuve de l'efficacité

Abstract: Cette these vise une meilleure comprehension des enjeux et rapports de force lies au plurilinguisme dans une institution publique. Son terrain d'investigation est constitue par l'Administration federale suisse, propice pour etudier les questions ayant trait a la representativite linguistique, l'ideologie langagiere, la politique linguistique et les pratiques linguistiques sur le lieu de travail. La theorie de la bureaucratie representative constitue le point de depart de mon cadre theorique. Selon celle-ci, les administrations publiques devraient representer tous les groupes sociaux de leur pays. Leur personnel devrait « refleter » la diversite de cette population pour des raisons d'egalite, de legitimite et de stabilite politique. Cependant, le critere linguistique est rarement etudie dans ce cadre. Afin de combler ce manque de theorie, je me suis tournee vers la theorie politique, la sociologie des organisations et la sociolinguistique critique. Mes donnees sont constituees de 49 entretiens semi-directifs menes dans deux offices federaux, ainsi que des textes officiels reglementant le plurilinguisme et la representativite linguistique a l'Administration federale. J'ai ainsi confronte les conceptions des collaborateurs sur le plurilinguisme - exprimees dans les entretiens - avec celles de l'institution, refletees dans sa politique linguistique. Mon analyse a demontre que, selon les acteurs ou le contexte, les enjeux lies au plurilinguisme se situent a des niveaux distincts : lorsque l'institution s'efforce de creer un lieu de travail affichant l'egalite des langues officielles, les collaborateurs percoivent le plurilinguisme comme un element parmi d'autres qui influence l'efficacite de leur travail. L'interet de cette recherche se situe tout aussi bien au niveau pratique que theorique: d'une part, mes observations definissent certaines «barrieres» empechant les pratiques linguistiques plurilingues et une representativite linguistique proportionnelle a celle du pays. Elles contribuent ainsi a une reflexion concrete sur la maniere de les surmonter. D'autre part, l'application au plurilinguisme, dans une institution publique, de concepts et modeles theoriques issus de disciplines variees permet d'ouvrir un regard neuf sur ceux-ci.

Microfoundations of active representation in public bureaucracies: evidence from a survey of personnel recruitment in the swiss federal civil service

Abstract: This article investigates the link between passive (descriptive) and active (substantive) representation in public bureaucracies. Previous studies on this topic mostly focused on the US context, where race and gender are the most salient aspects of bureaucratic representation. In Switzerland, representation of the various cultural communities in the federal bureaucracy is the most salient issue. Active representation is operationalized as administrators’ preferences for minority origin, as well as for skills in minority languages when selecting candidates in personnel recruitment processes. We use a structural equation model to analyze individual-level data from a survey of administrators in the Swiss federal civil service. Findings are that passive representation fosters active representation not only at the level of individual bureaucrats, but also at the level of the agencies as the main bureaucratic work environment. Moreover, we find that effects of passive on active representation are not direct but mediated by administrators’ sensitivity to issues related to minority representation. Sensitivity to minority conditions therefore appears as the main microfoundation for active representation of minority interest, and as a core explanatory factor for active representation outside of demographic congruence.

Measuring diversity in multilingual communication

Abstract: This article develops new indices to measure linguistic diversity. It is new in two respects: firstly, existing indices to measure the probability that in a given multilingual context communication among people speaking different languages can successfully occur are based on the assumption that communication is possible only if at least one single language is shared. This study develops new indices that describe the probability that people with different linguistic repertoires can effectively communicate not only through one common language, but also by relying on their receptive competence in multiple languages, or a mix between the two communication strategies. Secondly, it develops indices to measure the degree of diversity of language policies aimed at providing multilingual communication (through translation and interpretation). The focus, therefore, is on the organisation as collective actors rather than individuals. The indices may be relevant to the study of the political and economic implications of linguistic diversity in multilingual countries, and in the management of diversity in multilingual organisations.