WORKING OF BUREAUCRACY

OBJECTIVES

Public Administration has become an important branch of the modern Government. It is regarded as ‘heart’ of modern civilization, also as ‘backbone of states’ machinery. Max Weber, a German Sociologist, in his analysis of Bureaucracy, had made Bureaucracy most important part of the study of Western Political Science. In this unit, an attempt is made to describe the importance of Bureaucracy, ‘a hierarchy of technical experts in Administration.’

Max Weber closely studied the inseparable relationship between - Society & State. He understood the inevitability of Bureaucracy in modern society in modern state. He wrote on theory of Bureaucracy. Power, Authority & legitimacy. Weber also founded the modern sociological study of Bureaucracy. Weber suggested models of Bureaucracy & fundamental principles of Bureaucracy.

INTRODUCTION

Many social and political scientists have explained the concept of Bureaucracy. Max Weber’s idea of state was that ‘a state is a compulsory association which successfully claims a monopoly of legitimate use of force within a given territory.’ State alone possesses power, authority & legitimacy. Weber concluded that it is the legitimate authority of state to exercise power over its people. Administration / Bureaucracy exercises its authority i.e. power of command. Max Weber’s idea of Bureaucracy is based upon his notion of ‘rational legal authority.’ Bureaucracy, therefore, should have certain definite organizational structures, principles & characteristics.

In this unit, Max Webers ideas on Bureaucracy are discussed.