Three Views On Bureaucracy.

As regards bureaucracy there are mainly three strands of thoughts or views.

1.First.

One view holds that functionality of bureaucracy on the basis of laws,rules and regulations is its USP. It recognises neither charisma nor tradition. Rules and regulations is everything for the supporters of this view. This group is led by Max Weber who stressed indispensibilty of bureaucracy in modern society. Notwithstanding how big or small a decision may be; it is supposed to be taken solely on the basis of what rules and regulations (framed by the legitimate Power) say in respect of that. In other words, the subscribers of this view supposes bureaucracy value neutral and impartial to say the least. To them rules and regulations are the Guide- in- Chief. Implementation of/obeying any order in defiance of rules and regulations with a view to gain undue favour or avert displeasure of Boss or political masters proves painful subsequently and very often permanently. 

2. Second.

The second view advocates reform. American scholars such as Robert Merton,Peter Blau and others advocate reform in the traditional approach. They hold that the traditional view underestimates human potential and perpetuates not so healthy atmosphere in the workplace. They find the above mode of bureaucratic behaviour simply erroneous.  To them the rule bound and conservative character of Bureaucracy is dysfunctional to the goal of governance in a democratic set up. They believe that the value neutrality, conservatism, impartiality and anonymity of bureaucracy as originally envisaged in traditional approach is now anachronistic. Man is not a cog in the wheel. It in that form can serve only routine nature of task imposed upon it and definitely not the aspirations of people which will continue to rise in any democratic set up. The multitude of socio-economic dimensions of problems in the society cannot be handled with the attitude of impartiality and anonymity. The Bureaucracy must shed off to assume the shade of Power that protects it. It must not only imbibe the philosophy of the ruling power but also act accordingly in a pro-active manner so that no impediment is felt by the ruling power under which it is supposed to function. To that extent if a slight detour from rules and regulations is required bureaucracy should not hesitate to take recourse to. This need advocates making bureaucracy reformed(?) to become suited to the need of ruling power. In other words it is referred to as a committed bureaucracy if not the partisan one. Any ruling dispensation favours a committed type of bureaucracy i.e a bureaucracy supposedly committed to the cause of people to change their socio-economic status. Hence bureaucracy in this context has to become an agent of change, a service provider etc.etc.

3. Third.

The third view is baffling. It is due to Marx.

 Marx never wrote anything directly on Bureaucracy.For bureaucracy never remained the focus of his political theorisation.

 His Enemy-in-Chief was state which he sought to give a decent burial through his revolutionary writings. Naturally it was not to be.

 How mistaken he was albeit brilliant extra-ordinarily! 

 Bureaucracy came under the scanner of his scrutiny only as the by-product of his political thinking. 

Nevertheless his views on bureaucracy is worth noting; for it throws light on the inner functioning of bureaucratic apparatus. It facilitates understanding reasons for corruption, nepotism and other associated ills prevalent in bureaucracy.

To Marx, bureaucracy is an instrument of exploitation not an agent of change. It regulates to exploit and sometimes repress also to further its private ends For Marx, bureaucracy is a particular closed society within the state. Its aim is to create an order which legalises and perpetuates oppression of one class by moderating conflicts.It has an ulterior agenda which consists in exploiting the affairs of the community in such a manner to promote and sustain its private ends. The general spirit of the bureaucracy is  secret and mystery. It is afraid of conducting the affairs of the state in public and consider political consciousness as treason against mystery. Marx held that bureaucracy symbolises alienation for the toiling masses. According to Marx "Authority is the principle of its knowledge,and the deification of authoritarianism is its credo."

                     Which view is a practical one? I leave it to the readers to decide.

R.R.Prabhakar.

25.01.2021.