Bureaucracy Flashcards
what is the importance of bureaucracy?
states are linked to bureaucracy, politicians cannot achieve anything without it
what are two historic examples of bureaucratic reforms?
United States: 1883 Pendleton Act (bureaucratic hiring practices)
Iceland: 2010-2013 Civil Reform (after 2008 crisis)
what are Max Weber’s three important characteristics that modern bureaucracy must have?
- Hierarchical organisation with carefully defined division of tasks
- Career-based personnel recruited on the basis of merit
- Impersonal application of rules
what is meant by “hierarchical organisation with carefully defined division of tasks”?
-each of the administrative parts and departments of the state are specialised in their own fields = well oiled machine
-there is a chain of command
what is meant by “career-based personnel recruited on the basis of merit”?
-bureaucrats are permanently appointed, receiving fix salaries and enjoying some benefits
-promotion occurs on the basis of seniority (time spent in service)
what are the two types of systems for hiring bureaucrats?
-merit system
-political (patronage) system
what is the merit system for hiring bureaucrats?
bureaucrats are hired based on their professional qualifications and competence, and are not fired for political reasons
what is the political (patronage) system for hiring bureaucrats?
bureaucrats are hired and fired based on support or membership of a particular political party, group or individual
what is meant by “impersonal application of rules”?
-bureaucrats should conduct business not on political references but on rules of conduct
-bureaucratic decisions are recorded and tracked
-bureaucrats are treated procedurally and equally
what are the five main promises of Weberian bureaucracy?
- effectiveness
- efficiency
- equal treatment of citizens
- impersonal application of rules
- merit principles as a basis of recruitment
what is meant by “effectiveness” as a promise of Weberian bureaucracy?
ensures that things actually get done
what is meant by “efficiency” as a promise of Weberian bureaucracy?
ensures that things get done at a low cost
what is meant by “merit principles as a basis of recruitment” as a promise of Weberian bureaucracy?
supposed to protect citizens from all types of discrimination (class, gender, race, etc.)
what are the three problems with modern bureaucracy?
- dictatorship of the official
- fragmentation
- proliferation
what is meant by “dictatorship of the official” as a problem with modern bureaucracy?
permanent bureaucrats become so powerful that they decide what politicians do
supposed to be the other way around
what is meant by “fragmentation” as a problem with modern bureaucracy?
different agencies all try dealing with the same issues leading to a fragmented system
what is meant by “proliferation” as a problem with modern bureacracy?
bureaucracy can be criticised for being an institution that is always expanding, beyond what is necessary
which group criticises bureaucracy as a never-ending and always-expanding institution?
public choice theorists
what do public choice theorists say about bureaucrats?
they just follow their private interests (wanting increased budgets and salaries)
what are the three types of reforms of modern bureaucracy?
- increasing politicisation
- introducing new institutions and policies
- new public managament
what is meant by increasing politicisation as a reform of modern bureaucracy?
selecting bureaucrats also on political reasons to make sure public policies are applied
what are the three ways to increase politicisation in bureaucracies?
- spoils system
- clientelism
- nomenklatura
what is a spoils system in the context of increasing politicisation in bureaucracies?
opposite of merit system
winning party gives government jobs to supporters, friends and relatives as rewards and incentives
what is clientelism in the context of increasing politicisation in bureaucracies?
state jobs are distributed in a large scale, based on who voted for the winning party (usually friends and relatives)
what is nomenklatura in the context of increasing politicisation in bureaucracies?
groups of listed people deemed fit to work for government in Eastern Bloc countries
almost all nomenklatura were communist party members
what are the two ways to introduce new institutions and policies in bureaucracies?
- ombudsman
- affirmative action
what is an ombudsman?
(powerless) state officials appointed by parliaments to investigate administrative misconducts
what is meant by affirmative action in the context of introducing new institutions and policies in bureaucracies?
policies designed to increase representativeness of bureaucracy (i.e. changing composition)
what is meant by new public management (NPM) as a reform of modern bureaucracy?
introducing new market/business principles and reforms to public administration and bureaucracy
where does new public management (NPM) get its origins from?
United States (Reagan) and United Kingdom (Thatcher)
what are the three core principles of new public management (NPM)?
- Competition within the public sector
- Performance-based employment
- Managerial methods of administration
what is meant by “competition within the public sector” in the context of new public management (NPM)?
introducing incentives whereby competition occurs within the public sector amongst different large entities
what is meant by “performance-based employment” in the context of new public management (NPM)?
opposing life-long fixed contracts, renewing contracts based on performance, allowing for flexibility
what is meant by “managerial methods of administration” in the context of new public management (NPM)?
regular performance targets are created within public administration to be achieved
how has new public management (NPM) been successful?
-all modern bureaucracies have adopted it to a certain extent
-improves efficiency and effectiveness
