Cabinet reshuffle is the act of moving ministers within the government or relocating portfolios. It is one of the most significant events in a Prime Minister’s tenure and has the potential to revitalise entire government policy areas. Consequently, it attracts huge interest from political observers and scholars with a particular interest in Westminster systems. However, this scholarly literature is plagued by two key problems: firstly, it is often focused solely on analyzing the impact of cabinet reshuffles in individual countries and secondly, it is heavily influenced by notional and empirical biases. This collection aims to address these two weaknesses and brings together novel research on the nature, causes and effects of cabinet reshuffles in a wide range of countries and regimes.
Whether conducted in response to battles in cabinet or unfavourable opinion polls, reshuffles are an important part of a Prime Minister’s toolkit for directing government policy. However, it is important to note that the impact of reshuffles on government policy can be mixed. They can be a useful way to signal policy shifts and instigate new initiatives but they also have the potential to backfire by creating tensions between departments.
It is important to keep in mind that it is difficult to keep track of what each ministry is up to if their ministers are constantly changing jobs, and that the process can make it harder for them to be held accountable for the policies they oversee. However, it is equally important to consider why the government may wish to reshuffle in the first place.