Duty calls but not for all: The policy involvement of cabinet ministers in Israel during the COVID-19 crisis

During a major crisis the public expects the government to handle the situation. In parliamentary democracies, these expectations are turned to the prime minister and the cabinet ministers. Cabinet ministers are required to be decisive and lead their departments. However, ministers differ in their degree of policy involvement, with some aiming to change the entire agenda of the ministry and others leaving the bureaucracy to handle policymaking. During periods of crisis, these differences can be consequential for the outcomes of crisis management. The question is whether crisis creates a sense of responsibility that makes ministers more involved in policymaking. Based on an analysis of the policy activities of five cabinet ministers in Israel before and during the first wave of the coronavirus pandemic, this paper finds that crisis does not increase the level of involvement of cabinet ministers. This has implications for issues of delegation and trust in parliamentary democracy.