The literature on Representative Bureaucracy studies how representation unfolds within and across countries’ public administrations at one point in time. However, such a synchronic approach leaves aside how time and temporal developments may impact upon bureaucratic representation. In contrast, this article maintains that bureaucratic representation is not time invariant. Combining insights from a Weickian sensemaking perspective and Saurugger’s analysis of increased ‘politicization’ during crisis situations, we argue that the representation of specific identities gains/loses prominence for both public bureaucracies and public officials during crisis periods. The temporal-contextual imperative suggested by these arguments is supported by interview and survey evidence using Seconded National Experts (SNEs) in the European Commission.
