Mid Sweden University

Research has shown that the last few decades of neoliberal governing has transformed the state and its organization, but less attention has been paid to the growing practice of governments outsourcing work to private consultants. Knowledge is an important aspect of governing and we therefore use a governmentality approach to analyze consultants’ knowledge production for a national government agency, through the narratives of employees. The results suggest a rationality that sees consultants as cost effective, prompt and objective observers, but that the procurement process, their external position and the buyer–seller relationship undermines quality and the will to “speak truth to power”, and produces a “brain-drain” from government agencies. This may have serious consequences for governments’ self-reflection, efforts at internal critique and actions. It may also reshape the political context of public administration and the accountability of governments.