Midterm- Bureaucracy

Question 1

define Weber’s Life Chances

Answer 1

• the likelihood that one can actualize
  their will is subject to their particular standing in
  society. The accident of one’s birth greatly impacts
  that likelihood (and often the will itself).
• anyone can theoretically be anything, but
  reality is that people have better and worse chances
  depending on their place in society.

Question 2

define bureaucracy

Answer 2

a structured way of administrating organizational tasks characterized by specialization, a hierarchy of offices, and a set of rules and regulations

Question 3

define Weber’s theory of historical change

Answer 3

• weber agreed with Marx that social structures and material conflicts are the major drivers of our social, economic, and political reality/change; its mostly struggles among economic actors that shapes society
• but ideas, beliefs, and values still matter

Question 4

define power

Answer 4

the ability for an individual or a group to
realize their (collective) will even against the
opposition of others.

Question 5

define ideal type

Answer 5

a tool that imagines something in its purest state; it may not exist in reality but it’s a model against which actual manifestations may be compared
- weber’s description of bureaucracy is an ideal type; it may exist nowhere as he describes it but it’s how bureaucracy should function

Question 6

define Verstehen

Answer 6

understanding of people’s subjective experience

• how people make the world meaningful is also a mechanism for making the material world

Question 7

Switchman Analogy

Answer 7

as a power that shapes society, material conflicts over MoP are like a train: powerful fast moving, and you can’t stop it. ideas, beliefs, and values (especially religious) are like a train switchman; they can very slightly alter the trajectory of the train and drive social change over time

Question 8

Define rationality/rationailization

Answer 8

the replacement of traditions, values, and emotions as motivators for behavior in society with concepts based on rationality and reason.

Question 9

define demystification

Answer 9

the world is stripped of mystery, individual creativity, and richness in favor of more rational processes

Question 10

define McDonaldization

Answer 10

the modern rationalization of the fast food industry

• exhibits maximum efficiency, calculability, and predictability
• standardization of products and workers
• complete control over production and supply chain
• redefinition of value as a price + quantity

other examples:
- universities; larger classes, standardized exams, universal curriculum and standards

Question 11

define Iron Law of Oligarchy- Michel’s argument as a critique of socialism and democracy

Answer 11

the inevitability of large organizations becoming ruled by a small group of people

• Michels: power corrupts
• self interest and power of bureaucratic office leads to the emergence of special interests
• primary special interest is the political party itself
• interests of party trump interests of the public good, the stability of the political system, or even Rule of Law
• democracy becomes oligarchy

Question 12

describe Weber’s 3 forms of authority

Answer 12

traditional authority: authority comes from tradition and the ability of the leader to protect tradition (tribal chief or monarch)

charismatic authority: the ability of certain personalities to garner support (like Hitler- Weber feared this)

rational-legal authority: stipulated by law or legal custom; the OFFICE holds authority, not the individuals holding that office.