BureaucracyThe Machinery of Government

January 30, 2003

Ideal-Type Bureaucracy (Weber)

characteristics hierarchical structure/unity of command specialization

vs. amateurism full-time employment based on merit

vs. patronage/nepotism decisions based on impersonal rules (vs. arbitrariness)

strict application of codified rules to particular cases

Hierarchical Structure/Unity of Command

D irecto r D irecto r

A ss is tan tD ep u ty M in is ter

D irecto r D irecto r

A ss is tan tD ep u ty M in is ter

D ep u ty M in is ter

Ideal-Type Bureaucracy (Weber) operation – the politics-administration dichotomy

political officials make decisions about overall policy direction

civil servant implement those decisions works in theory; however, in practice, in the line

between politics and administration is blurred may lead to conflict between political officials and

bureaucratic officials political and bureaucratic officials each bring different

resources to this internal jockeying...

Resources – Senior Bureaucratic Officials expertise

policy process

person-power relationship with other departments relationship with clientele tenure

in comparison with elected officials

Resources – Senior Political Officials political legitimacy expertise

political vis-a-vis public vis-a-vis the political leadership (e.g.

cabinet and PM) ability to manage relationship

outside expertise competing lines of advice

relationship with public/media

(Negative?) Attributes of Bureaucracy

rigid red-tape (inefficient) stifles creativity

top-down not responsive not participatory

anonymous nameless, faceless not representative not elected

(Positive?) Attributes of Bureaucracy

effective especially at mass routine tasks in comparison to other forms of organization

accountable impartial (as opposed to arbitrary)

Liberal Democracy and Bureaucracy confluence

bureaucracy is good in that it emphasizes impartiality (over participation)

dissonance danger is if bureaucracy becomes too powerful

and threatens individual rights• “Big Brother”

Elite Democracy and Bureaucracy confluence

top-down and hierarchical nature of bureaucracy is good

effective mechanism to pursue the general welfare dissonance

danger if bureaucracy becomes too powerful and undermines competition among elected/political elites

• e.g. development of a permanent non-elected bureaucratic elite making decisions

• ultimately decisions must be ratified by elected elites

Participatory Democracy and Bureaucracy confluence

effective mechanism to pursue the general welfare

e.g. to put into effect the will of the majority dissonance

top-down hierarchical nature of bureaucracy is bad

excessive focus on impartiality (over participation) is bad

Main Messages!!

Bureaucracy in tension with all models of democracy relationship with democracy is

paradoxical (depending on model of democracy)