Session 16: bureaucracy and its functions

The most common writings that are followed when talking about bureaucracy are undoubtedly that of Max Weber. He wrote a rationale that described the bureaucratic form as the ideal way for the workings of different organizations. His center of focus was the red tapism that existed in the culture of most of the bureaucracies working in the world. He identified a rational legal authority in which legitimacy was seen as coming from a legal order.

There are a number of characteristics that are related to bureaucracy as discussed by max Weber. His theory included a perfect hierarchical structure which he thought was the basis of central planning and centralized decision making. Controlling by rules; this allows decisions made at high levels to be executed consistently by all lower levels. Concentrate on division of labor and giving promotions and jobs on the basis of qualifications rather than kinship ties. Working independently from any political influences and treating all the employees equally without any making any individual differences.

The functions written in the course pack are also quite similar to the one given by Weber. They include carrying out administration, offering policy advice, articulating and aggregating interests and maintaining political stability.

The reality is extremely different from what is given in theories. Despite their formal subordination and impartiality, bureaucrats exert considerable influence on the policy making process. In a country like Pakistan, government officials are well known for their inefficiency and under the table agreements, believing that they carry out all these tasks sincerely and honestly is merely a joke. Mainstream idea among the population is that these bureaucrats along with the politicians are responsible for the deteriorating conditions of the country. The question that still remains unanswered is who hold the ultimate authority to make policies and implement policies, is it the bureaucrats who have a permanent  job that do not changes with the rise and fall of governments or is it the politicians who are given a particular time period to bring their mandate into action.