Bureaucrats in Campaigns: Elections Increase Dysfunctional Behaviors Among Civil Servants

Abstract

Elections are essential for democracy, but the turbulence and uncertainty they bring can disrupt the functioning of public organizations. This study investigates how elections may trigger dysfunctional interpersonal dynamics and behaviors among civil servants. We specifically examine the relationship between elections and both increased interpersonal conflicts within public organizations and heightened counterproductive behaviors among civil servants. Using a longitudinal pretest–posttest design and panel regression analysis, we compare behavioral variables of 283 career civil servants during Brazil's polarized election of 2022 to those of 2023 (post-election). The findings indicate that elections, as situations of political instability, are associated with increased dysfunctional behaviors among civil servants, particularly in public organizations with higher susceptibility to politicization.