When bureaucratic expertise comes under attack

Abstract Politicians need expertise to make public policies, and civil servants are principal proximate providers of knowledge. Yet, what constitutes relevant knowledge skills for bureaucrats is regularly contested—both by politicians bureaucrats—and subject change. How can we explain the processes contestation change in policy bureaucracies? The article presents a theoretical framework analyzing politics bureaucratic expertise. It proposes concept “expertise bargains” capture understanding between about servants. Based on transactional view authority politics, it argues that terms this bargain mutually defined through dynamic bargaining process. analytical utility demonstrated comparative‐historical analysis field economic policy.