...och slutsatsen:
Concluding remarks and further study
What then are the consequences of the use of discretional power in
implementing the management of Swedish wolf policy? The present
study points to three broad implications that would be worthy of further
study.
A first implication is that the form of citizen participation in the
administrative process that has arisen due to the application of discretionary
powers creates an exclusion that is counter-productive to a
general acceptance of the current wolf policy. Citizens thus perceive
that the implementation process is devoid of meaningful participation
and the dialogue between the interested parties. In their view,
there are few possibilities to control and follow up the administrative
procedures and mechanisms, a conclusion shared by other studies
(Renn 2006; Sjölander-Lindqvist 2006).
Secondly, the role of the law as an instrument giving confidence
and guidance to administrative agencies needs to be reinforced by
presenting more specific rules and instruments to the officers. The
study indicates that officers prefer strong and unambiguous rules in
managing the implementation of policy. A lack of effective rules creates
an uncertain environment that the officers must shape and prioritize
with their own discretionary rule set.
Finally, the division of roles and functions between politicians and
administrative agencies needs to be re-evaluated. Generally speaking,
democratic theory assumes that administrative agencies are tools in
the hands of politicians. In reality, the Swedish model of administration
is characterized by agencies with a high degree of autonomy
from the politicians and a relatively large degree of freedom to shape
the implementation of policy. In effect, these administrative agencies
exercise political power. One consequence of citizens viewing the
administrative agencies as political actors is that they in turn try to
influence these agencies to change the effective outcome of legislation.