Assignment

Comparative Politics

Topic: Bureaucratic Theory of Max Weber

Submitted to:
Mentor: Madam Asma Afzal
Submitted by;
Javed Ahmad MAPS 1248 (B)
2019-21.

Department of Political Science

Government College University,

Lahore.
 Outlines:

1. Introduction
2. Rational question
3. Weber’s views on Bureaucracy
4. Power Structure
5. Overview of Bureaucratic in Pakistan
6. Post Martial Law period
7. Conclusion
8. References
Introduction:
This study explains the concept of bureaucracy by putting it into light of
interlinked aspects to the topic under discussion other than exploring it is
isolated and unified constant. The term bureaucracy has diverse meanings
especially in post-structuralized interpretations. This study tells that how
different pieces of literature on bureaucracy are inter-dependent and rise
side by side by giving distinguished views on the idea of bureaucracy rather
than explaining it by giving altogether new idea. This paper project finds the
nourishment of idea of bureaucracy from early Max Weber’s
conceptualization of idea of bureaucracy distinguished perspective and
broad views. The principle of this study to highlights that how the literature
on Bureaucracy has given a special kind of narrative where as it is
instituted because of developmental organizational failure with special
relevance to Pakistan after its birth. On border aspect Bureaucracy
undoubtedly linked with the rise of modern state which is also define by
development from pre-modern bureaucratic organizations. In this sense,
the term actually correlates to bureaucracy’s representative structure of our
time.

Rationale Question:
The study will explain how bureaucracy is necessitated by existence of
highly organized governmental and administrative system. It will also
answer that how modern version of bureaucratic organization and the
managerial tasks are connected to it from theological discourse?
How concept of bureaucracy is inseparably linked with the modern society
will also be brought into light.
Weber’s view on Bureaucracy:
Weber’s extraordinary contributions to developed social thinking were
based on sociology, economics and philosophy in which he held chairs in
Freiburg, Heidelberg and Munich. He has an ability of great influence in
English and had distinguished flow in French and Spanish with a good grip
over Russian and Hebrew. His position as one of the most popular social
thinkers is not disputed to this day in the fields of Jurisprudence,
philosophy, Economic, History and Theology however, his accomplished
work on bureaucracy is his most popular contribution to the realm of social
sciences. According to Belau and Scott, Weber’s concepts of bureaucracy
are undoubtedly the most important general statement on formal
organization. He was successful in highlighting and understanding the
emergence of bureaucratic kind of organization in Germany and started
that the new developments there gave a mythical from of administration.
He specified the accumulation of wealth and thus the evolution of modern
day capitalism to the emergence of bureaucracy in the modern world.
The speeding demands on culture are determined by a varying attitude by
boosting up wealth to the most promising strata in the state. To this level,
boosting up bureaucratization is a function of the growing possession of
goods used for consumption, and a growing civilized technique of
modernizing external life, a technique which corresponds to the chances
given by such wealth. This treats with the standards of living and makes for
a growing subjective indispensability of organized, collective, inter-local and
thus bureaucratic provision for the most varied wants, which previously
were either in dark or quenched locally by private economy.
Weber’s key works unlock a bunch of ideas that Adam the bureaucratic
system, giving a number of complicated ones which are very hard to
discuss in English. According to Weber, Bureaucracy enjoys which it is
eligible to rule over the other system. The Bureaucracy rules over and
enjoys also to carry out its responsibilities with a primary consideration on
it.
The logical advancement of bureaucratic organizations has
always been its real and pure technical dominance over any other form of
organization. The completely modernized and developed bureaucratic set
up compares with other organization exactly as does the machine over
non-mechanical modes of production. Accuracy, speed, precision,
knowledge of the files, continuity, discretion, strict sub-ordination, reduction
of friction and of material and personal costs---these are boosted up to the
optimum point in the strictly bureaucratic administration, and particular in its
monocratic form. As contested with all collegiate, horrific, and rotational
form of administration, trained bureaucracy is superior on all these points.
And as for as complicated ties are concerned, paid Bureaucratic work is not
only more precise but in last analysis, it is often cheaper them even
formally honorific service.
Influenced by this trend, a bureaucrat tries to limit himself to the folds of
rigid and hard fascism whereas he tries to take only explored facts into
consideration. Weber was greatly worried ale out such a negative and
inhumane mode of thinking and said that his tendency had given rise to an
altogether new game where bureaucrats are pictured and portrayed as
brutal and destructive administrations characterized by a bureaucratic
personality more concerned with blind adherence and rules and regulations
and self-serving organization goals them with actual practical outcomes
from their work in serving human being or even society in general.

Power Structure;
A main aspect in the domains of bureaucratic writings is related to creative
potential of bureaucracies. Many writes are of this concept that
bureaucracies are actually poor arenas for innovative. Some thinkers have
notions of empirical studies on it. Thompson discussed the relation
between bureaucracy and innovation and regarded the bureaucracy as the
generation, acceptance and implementation of newer concepts and ideas,
processes and products or services. To innovation he gives distinguished
concept that innovation bring about a variety in the society it implies the
capacity to change and viewed as an essential adapt. Since it brings about
change in the variety of products and thus in the society, it is referred to as
a cross-functional collaboration as well as gaining novel set of abilities and
process therefore, Thompson felt bureaucracies as weak and bad
innovators and not for an entrepreneur. During bureaucratization of firms,
the emerging systems organize several aspects into responsibility. So in
the consequences, an order is enforced and clashes and inconvenient
situations are resolved. Therefore, Thompson stated other things being
equal the less bureaucratized the organization, the more conflict and
uncertainty and the more innovation.
With great number of other concerns, one of the bad giving’s/losses of the
bureaucratization organization is its mechanical dependence on the
concept of extrinsic motivation, giving a part of the motivation theory. For
Thompson, innovation is greatly concerned with intrinsic innovation. For
instance the extrinsic reward system, organized by the hierarchy of
authority, gives conformity rather them innovation. Creativity is backed with
most importance. Thompson also gave the idea of professionalism that it
has to be subsequently activated in bureaucracies. Professionalism can be
alternative or is an alternative to bureaucracy or the market as a social hold
as a system of control, it is multiple and strong other than monocratic and
hierarchical. The grades it offers as professional known how for boosting
up of competence or growth and the intrinsic satisfaction associated with
professional work.
Since bureaucratization is one of the main source or process engaged in
modernizing European society, the idea of bureaucratization comes today
relating to imposing the formalizing practices in institutions in order to align
them with the forged rules and formal procedure. No doubt, such a
distinguished and remaking new that comes today is reinforced by present-
day generation’s outlook towards fitting epistemologies. For examples,
many developed ideologies on social institution come to the state of
becoming or what is going on to the moves without being stagnant. The
bureaucracy gives the pre-modern fashion of stressing on stability and
“fortification,” whereas the structures of bureaucracy during modern times
are characterized by the idea of speed which is for many thinkers is labeled
as “doxology”.
A Historical overview of Bureaucratic conduct in Pakistan:
The characteristic bureaucratic structure of Pakistan finds its
roots back into the colonial period that mainly focused to exercise its
administration talents to enhance the interest and imperative of colonialism.
Pakistan’s bureaucracy adopted the particular cadre-based system was
typically characteristic feature of Indian Civil Service. Even in the present
day it remains the same. By putting in front this hierarchical system, we
come to know that Indian Civil Service was mainly the principle machinery
of the colonial provincial-level administration. At the time of colonial period,
those who were taken by the Indian Civil Service were recruited with
different responsibilities both under the Federal as well as provincial
governments. But a large bulk of segment of provincial cadre officers was
inducted only for positions with the provincial government. In some
particular cases where the officers gave some extraordinary capabilities
they were drafted to fill up the empty seats and positions available in other
provinces as well as with the federal government. Up to 1879, the locals
were not given high ranks of the bureaucratic service, but when all India
civil services came into existence, the provincial seats and cadre were full
of Indians and then onwards up to the year of independence, a large
number of highly qualified locals were recruited into Indian civil service.
First, they were barred from entering into ties but this bar was replaced with
tough recruitment procedures and guidelines that overlooked the British
Indian civil servants.
When the imperial control was highly exercised over
politics, the position suggested that bureaucracy functioned within a
domestic framework thoroughly insulted from outside context of virtually
complete domestic insularity.
The Immediate aftermath of Independence: 1948-58:
When the British left south Asia, they had given both Pakistan and India
probably the best bureaucratic system of the world. Greatly brutalized by
the imperial and colonial set up, the authorities had effected a gradual
transformation from feudal mating up of to an Adam public service. This
proved to be very instrumental and helpful in handing the early hard years
of Pakistan with diligence and decency. In the aftermath of independence,
there was a political fragility and political apparatus including military was
dominated by the pan downing fuddle. Compared to the situation in India at
that time, Pakistani, bureaucracy was greatly endorsed by the politics and
was strengthened and emboldened by nature of political leadership.
Jinnah could have drawn from these two conclusions: one, to place the
politicians under bureaucratic tutelage and to improve the Muslim league
party machinery to eliminate some of functions and accommodate others.
Completely bad situations of politics from 1947-58 period endorsed
bureaucracy to get supremacy and control over politicians and with this
characteristic. The bureaucratic structure centralized and completely got
insulated from general public. That is why some sort of accountability
existed from within .This reflected some influence of ICS especially with
regard to political representation.
Looking at the bureaucratic structure, there was a far-reaching but huge
evolution was conceived following the partition of Pakistan.

Post Martial law period:

In 1958 military took over the country, thus bureaucracy gained control over
policymaking process and this correlation remained between military and
bureaucracy throughout 1960.
One of the major and most important accomplishments for bureaucracy
was to fortify itself at that time and became highly effective for restrictive
political environment. It strengthened itself during that period by adopting
three strategies. These were:
1- It got constitutional protection in 1962 constitution.
2- It protected itself from any kind of political interference.
3- The basis democracies (BD) to further strengthen the bureaucratic
powers.
As a consequence the far-reaching supremacy enjoyed by the
bureaucrats in administrative system, many other trends and tendencies
developed grew and spread. Ethnic domination proved to be a good
hand for personal and sectarian benefits. The notable victims were the
Bengalis. In the civil service they had nominal representation especially
in upper echelon. If we thoroughly review period of 1960s, we came to
know how they extended their tentacles and mauled the politicians.
Conclusion:
Weber contends that the bureaucracy is entrusted to effectively implement
the government policies. According to Weber they must not interfere in
political matters. But in Pakistan situation is entirely different from what he
propounded. In Pakistan the bureaucracy has always been contriving to
overpower politicos. They have left no stone unturned to gain supremacy
over politicos. Our history is replete with many unholy alliances between
bureaucracy and the military to gain control over political administration.
The reason behind their nexus is to throw away politicians and establish
their writ. Whenever there was martial law in the country, it was the
bureaucracy who facilitated the military to fortify their rule. This nexus
facilitated the former to strengthen itself in policymaking while the latter to
control security matters and foreign policy of the country.
References:
Belau, P.M. (1956). Bureaucracy in Modern Society. New York: Random
House.
Sayed, K.B. (1980) Politics in Pakistan: The nature and direction of change.
New York: Prager.
Weber, M (1948). The theory of social and economic organization. New
York: free press.