Centers of Government in Comparative Perspective: A Scoping Review of the International Literature

Abstract

Introduction: The literature on Centers of Government (CoG) has largely evolved around two main frameworks: the Core Executive in the British parliamentary system and the Institutional Presidency in the U.S. presidential system. This Anglophone dominance has left important gaps in understanding executive governance within Latin American presidential regimes. This article presents a scoping review of academic research on CoG, aiming to map theoretical approaches, empirical trends, and conceptual challenges in the field. Materials and methods: The review followed the PRISMA-ScR protocol. Searches were conducted in the Web of Science and SciELO databases without temporal restrictions, using combinations of Portuguese and English keywords. The search identified 840 records, of which 38 met the inclusion criteria after screening and exclusions. The selected publications were categorized by political system, level of analysis, and type of contribution (conceptual, normative, or empirical). Results: European and North American scholarship primarily focuses on the organizational structure and functional roles of the head of government’s office, whereas more recent Latin American research places greater emphasis on multiparty coalitions, coordination capacity, and presidential ideology. Evidence from regional studies suggests that the expansion of CoGs is associated with increasing party fragmentation and efforts to consolidate political control within the executive branch. Discussion: The findings indicate that this theoretical field remains in a formative stage, characterized by regional and terminological asymmetries and a lack of integrated comparative models. Advancing the measurement of coordination capacities and integrating structural and functional approaches are essential steps toward a more comprehensive understanding of the role of CoGs in governance and democratic stability.