The proposal plans to investigate patterns of state politicization in the Czech Republic, Poland, and Slovakia by looking at 1. changes to the top levels ofthe ministerial bureaucracy, 2. composition and modes of operation of the ministerial advisers, and 3. changes in the managerial positions of the state-owned enterprises (SOE). We seek to establish the main determinants of patronage practices, namely: Whether the level of politicization in the ministerial bureaucracy is inversely related to the role of powers political advisers at the ministries, and whether political actors systematically exploit the SEO in a predictable ways that is aligned with the changes to the ministerial bureaucracy.