OME Topic Two: Bureaucracy

“Bureaucracy”

Historically seen as negative with a limit on creativity and a heavy emphasis towards rules and regulations.

Rationalisation of Society

1. Theoretical mastery though science.

2. Objectivity and logic

3. Means/ends calculation

4. Demystification - disappearance of superstition

5. Historical movement from tradition to reason

Features of Bureaucracy

1.Centralised authority and hierarchy

2.Rational planning

3. impersonal rules

4. Formal job specialised

5. Appointment based on formal qualifications

6. Obedience irrespective of personal opinions

7. Measurement of performance

Professionalisation

Growth of self regulating ‘Professions’

“Authority”

Relationship that is required within bureaucracy to power

Bureaucracy seen as one type of authority

Legitimate exercise of power

Rational or Legal based

Power in Hierarchies

Weber identifies 3 types:

Traditional

Charismatic

Bureaucratic or ‘rational-legal’

Weber’s critique of Bureaucracy

1. individuals lose sight of the purpose of their work

2. Wishes of the individual are delegated towards the technical logic of science.

3. Control moves away from business leaders and political to officials

4. Spontaneity is moved away as the ‘iron cage’ is reinforced.

Neo - liberal critique

Bureaucracies are inefficient and inflexible

As a part of market coordination private and state were broken up which led to outsourcing, delayering and internal market

Post-neo liberal critique

Reliance on market flexibility and responsiveness to keep up to date with technological change.

Doesn’t adapt to the new era of scarcity and international rivalry

Has emphasised a focus on resilience and reliability such as ‘just in case’ planning

Libertarian critique (1)

‘Bureaucratic’ has become a word of abuse over the last half century

Bureaucracy has disrupted the flow of innovation and restricted creativity

Government regulation restricts what people want to do such as businesses and entrepreneurs.

Rules such as the smoking ban are an example that can cause disagreement which can be caused by businesses or politicians

Libertarian Critique (2)

Rules however can also protect us from harm such as dangerous products, dishonesty or from exploitation and selfishness.

An example of this includes the Pandemic where physical contact is limited to avoid further contamination.

Types of Liberty

Egoistic- Emphasis is on acting on your own interests and the resistance of rules that are imposed by others by the basis that the rules are affecting your own personal freedom.

Altruistic- Giving up some personal freedom by establishing common rules, based on the recognition that too much freedom of one’s will can restrict the liberties of others.

Typically people with more power do not like the limits on their liberty that are enforced by the less powerful.

Typically people with less power fear the unlimited liberties of the more powerful.