Individual Ambition and Institutional Opportunity: A Conceptual Approach to Political Careers in Multi-level Systems

Abstract

The article develops a conceptual framework for the analysis of political careers in multi-level systems. Political careers are seen as being shaped by the interplay of individual ambition and the institutional structure of opportunities. Under the conditions of political professionalism, career decisions are made comparing the costs and benefits of attaining the various offices given in a certain polity. I argue that the availability, accessibility, and attractiveness of offices provide the most important clues for career-planning. The article develops a conceptual framework for the analysis of political careers in multi-level systems. Political careers are seen as being shaped by the interplay of individual ambition and the institutional structure of opportunities. Under the conditions of political professionalism, career decisions are made comparing the costs and benefits of attaining the various offices given in a certain polity. I argue that the availability, accessibility, and attractiveness of offices provide the most important clues for career-planning. These in turn are shaped by the institutional structure. Within multi-level systems, the article finds that the relationship between offices on different territorial levels may be organized in one of three ways: there may be a clear hierarchy, there may be separate alternative arenas largely sealed off against each other, or there may be one large integrated playing-field. Finally, the article discusses the repercussions career patterns may have for the political system in which they occur by linking certain political institutions but not others.