Session 16. Rational bureacracy

A system of administration rather than of governance, the Bureaucracy is mostly deemed as the irreplaceable administrative machinery of the state existing in both democratic as well as authoritarian states.Weber believed bureaucracy was the best kind of system of rule due to its high specialization. He quoted that. "Only by strict specialization can the scientific worker become fully conscious, for once and perhaps never again in his lifetime, that he has achieved something that will endure. A really definitive and good accomplishment is today always a specialized act.". Therefore, the rational administrative model was adopted by most states whereby there is clear division of tasks ans jurisdictional areas are fixed, a clear hierarchy exists with an efficient chain of command, the entire system is written and filed, power exists in the form of legitimate power instead of referent power, there is minimum scope for individuals exercising their will and running the system at their discretion and employment and promotions are based purely on professional competency and skills. 

 The key to this system is its rationality and how it eliminates all the evils that our political systems are drowning in such as nepotism, corruption, self interest, unreliability and inefficiency. The technical superiority of the administrative model  as a necessity above others stemmed from the sprouting out of capitalist giants and from the pressure for economic efficiency and democratization.

The bureaucracy is Pakistan, just as in theory, function effectively and efficiently and is devoid of all political evils. It is a system that permanently functions despite whatever government is there to provide it with leadership. The appointments and advancements are all crystal clear and based solely on the individual's capabilities. If our bureaucratic system has proven to function so systematically without any allegations of malpractices by non-elected state officials and civil servants in a country like Pakistan where everyone has lost faith in anything being done by a proper channel or by honest methods, one then wonders why our political system is a lagging behind so much? 

If one thing applies to "A", why can't it work for "B"? The entire country has lost hope that there can ever be free and fair elections in Pakistan or that even if that happens, the government that shall come shall only appoint those they wish to favor regardless of their capabilities and each shall enter into a rat-race to fill their pockets as soon as possible all the while trying their best to give as little benefit as possible to the citizens of the nation that they are meant to serve.  Our corrupt political system juxtaposed with the unfailing and trustworthy bureaucracy makes it evident that all our problems stem from the lack of bureaucratic administration and adequate checks and balances within the government itself. It is a tragedy that the policy makers are so unreliable and insincere whilst the policy implementers are as efficient as possible. If one day, we can achieve the dream of crystal clear system of governance based on meritocracy, Pakistan too may be able to exit this trap of never-ending bad governance.