The role and position of minister’s adviser in Estonian politics and civil service system is a topic that has received little attention so far.<\/p>\n
Traditionally, the minister’s personal adviser has\u00a0been seen as an integral\u00a0part of a political structure but, as this article will show,\u00a0the position can also be\u00a0analysed as a third\u00a0player in a policy-making process. Advisers have a significant and at\u00a0the same time dualistic role in coordinating ministries’ policies: on the one hand the adviser participates in the process of policy formulation and selection\u00a0as a political actor, on the other \u2013 he\/she\u00a0has an active role as a civil servant\u00a0in the implementing process. In this article,\u00a0firstly, the causes of emergence of minister’s personal adviser’s position in western European political system are outlined;\u00a0secondly,\u00a0the possible roles of an adviser are brought out\u00a0and thirdly,\u00a0the case study carried out in two Estonian ministries in autumn 2005\u00a0will\u00a0be presented.<\/p>\n