MAX WEBER

THE BUREAUCRATIC THEORY

THE PROCESS OF RATIONALIZATION

By rational, Weber means an economic system based not on custom or tradition, but on a systematic and deliberated adjustment of economic means to attain pecuniary profit. Weber measures the degree of rationalization in society in two ways:
1. Positively, rationalization is measured by the extent to which ideas gain in systematic coherence and consistency. Negatively, it is measured by the displacement of magical element of thought. 2. A related emphasis in Webers analysis is the concept of domination. To Weber, emergence of rational societies depends on the way in which domination has been exerted.

 He maintains that domination is a subset of the phenomenon of power and the ruler has the right to exercise power and the ruled have a duty to obey.

There are two basic types of domination:

1. Domination based on constellation of interests
He identifies domination within each religion with a particular status group of religious leaders e.g. in Hinduism, the status group is the hereditary caste of Brahmins; for Christianity, it is the urban bourgeoisie; and for Confucianism, it is the government officials with a literary education.

2. Domination based on authority

It is found in legal and bureaucratic relationships. Obedience in such systems is based on the perception of legitimacy.

TYPOLOGY OF AUTHORITY
Webers most widely acknowledged contribution to the study of organization has been his theory of authority. He uses the term power to refer to the ability to force people to obey orders; legitimation to refer to the acceptance of the exercise of power because it conforms to the values held by the subjects; and authority to refer to the combination of the two that is to power which is viewed as legitimate.

CHARISMATIC AUTHORITY
It rests on devotion to the specific and exceptional sanctity, heroism or exemplary character of an individual person The only basis of legitimacy is personal charisma The leader is constrained only by his personal judgement and he is not governed by any formal method of adjudication There is no procedure for appointment, promotion or dismissal Administration under charismatic authority, according to Weber, is loose and unstable.

TRADITIONAL AUTHORITY
It rests on the sanctity of immemorial traditions and the legitimacy of the exercising authority.

The authority is by virtue of the status that is inherited and its extent is fixed by custom or usage.
Administration tends to be irrational and there is likelihood of absence of formal and technical staff. The organizational form can be:
1. Patrimonial in which the officials are personal servants who depend upon their ruler for remuneration.
2. Feudal in which officials have much more autonomy because of their own sources of income.

LEGAL-RATIONAL AUTHORITY
Authority rests on the legality of patterns of normative rules and the right of those elevated to authority under such rules to issue commands. It develops either through the routinization of charisma or the break-down of the privileges of traditional authority. Administration/officials under this authority to which Weber refers to as bureaucracy are only a trustee of an impersonal, compulsory institution under whose authority it exercises powers.

LEGAL-RATIONAL AUTHORITY
There are two major forms of domination:
1. Based on legal structure which gives rise to two kinds of rationality i.e.
i. An act is substantively rational if it is guided by principles such as those embodied in religious or ethical thought.
ii. An act is formally rational when it is based on general rules.

2. Bureaucratic administration

THE BUREAUCRATIC STRUCTURE: CHARACTERISTICS

Weber did not coin the term: it was rather de Gournay

He only discussed its characteristics

His emphasis was on legal-rational domination in modern state which was only possible through bureaucracy He defines an organization as an ordering of social relationships.

The organization consists of members accustomed to obedience; an administrative staff that holds itself at the disposal of the masters; and the masters themselves who hold power to command.

IDEAL TYPE OF BUREAUCRACY

According to Weber: Bureaucracy is an administrative body of appointed officials and is, from a purely technical point of view, capable of attaining the highest degree of efficiency and is, in this sense, formally the most rational known means of carrying out imperative control over human beings. It is superior to any other form in precision, in stability, in the stringency of its discipline, and its reliability. It is, finally, superior both in intensive efficiency and in the scope of its operations, and is formally capable of all kinds of administrative tasks.

CHARACTERISTICS
Bound by rules which facilitates standardization and equality in treatment. A sphere of competence which means a systematic division of labour, power and responsibility defined by administrative regulations. Principle of hierarchy Need of specialized training. According to Weber, the root of the authority of the bureaucrat is his knowledge and skill.

 Impersonal detachment which means that the ideal administrator performs his functions in a spirit of formalistic impersonality, that is, without his personal interests and likes and dislikes coming into the picture. Keeping records Career service. Webers bureaucratic structure provides for
a. Payment of salaries according to responsibility and social status b. Promotions and career development on the basis of both seniority and achievement c. Appeal and grievance machinery

The non-bureaucratic head

CRITICAL EVALUATION
1. Blau says that Weber could not recognize that the same factor that enhances efficiency in one respect often threatens it in another; it may have both functional and dysfunctional consequences. 2. Argyris claims that bureaucracies restrict the psychological growth of the individual and cause feelings of failure, frustration and conflict. 3. Webers formalistic structure is criticized by Barnard who says that informal organizations are necessary to the operation of formal organizations. Blau also maintains that informal relations and unofficial practices often contribute to efficient operation.

4. There seem some contradictions in Webers model:

a. The two principles i.e. Impersonal detachment and esprit de corps are incompatible

b. Strict hierarchy gives rise to mutual suspicion

c. Promotion on both seniority and merit are contradictory d. This model ignores human touch

5. Due to immense powers, he is increasingly pre occupied with his own social position and misses the original goals.
6. It is not necessarily rational and efficient and his bureaucratic characteristics may not be objective.

7. Weberian bureaucracy may be a less efficacious instrument of economic change due to its traditions, hierarchy and impartiality. 8. Weber himself admits that bureaucracy has penetrated all social institutions and hence limits individual freedom.

WEBERS PERSPECTIVES ON POLITICS AND BUREAUCRACY

State, according to Weber, represents the monopoly of the legitimate use of force over a given territory and is an ultimate in that it cannot be integrated into a more comprehensive whole. The Nation on the other hand has more than coercive control over a territory because it is also a community which produces a feeling of solidarity.

He holds that conflict should be encouraged because the highest qualities of life (i.e. qualities of independence) can be developed only through conflict.

 He favours democracy but warns against viewing it as a panacea for societys ills.

He argues that democracy requires a charismatic leader who is truly destined to rule and is suited for his tasks by supernatural gifts.
Weber was averse to bureaucratic domination. Only through charismatic leadership can bureaucracy be dominated by politics (politicians).