What is your understanding of „bureaucracy“ or „bureaucratic“?
What is your understanding of „bureaucracy“ or „bureaucratic“?
Where or when do you experience bureaucracy?
In a positive way
In a negative way
Development of Public Management/ Bureaucracy
Overview week 2
Function of Public Activities
Before Bureaucracy
Bureaucracy by Max Weber
Appraisal of Bureaucracy
Function of Public Activities (1)
There are problems which cannot be resolved individually.
Function of Public Activities (2)
Government intervention
Individuals/corporations are limited by the government (i.e. police, taxes
Government provision of services
Individuals/corporations are provided with services by the government (i.e. schools, hospitals, galleries)
Function of Public Activities (3)
Legislative power = …
Judicial power = …
Executive power = …
Public administration is part of the executive power, as long as no special administrative entities supporting legislative power (i.e. parliament services) or judicial power (i.e. court administration) are concerned.
Function of Public Activities (4)
Rule of Law: Civil rights
Predictability
Government action needs to be predictable.
Equity
Equal treatment under equal circumstances.
Judicial control
Government action can be referred to an independant court.
Function of Public Activities (4)
Rule of Law: Implications for Public Administration
No execitive entity is above law.
If law requires activity, administration has no discretion.
Administrative action requires a legal basis.
Law is changed in the same procedure it has been enacted.
Before Bureaucracy
Before French Revolution: Absolutism
Elements:
Centralism
Civil servants are employed by the throne
All three powers are united in the throne
Before Bureaucracy
French Revolution: Division of power, but administration stays the same
Aristocratic civil service
Personal nomination
Inheritance of positions
In Switzerland mainly Canton BE (inkl. occupied territories VD, AG, JU) and BS
Before Bureaucracy
However: Separation of intervention and service provision
Intervention: Secular, by public administration
E.g. armed forces, police, prison, customs, taxation
Public services: Religious, by the church
E.g. schools, hospitals, homes
In Roman Catholic areas still observable
Bureaucracy as defined by Max Weber
Max Weber (*1864 in Erfurt, +1920 in München)
Lawyer, economist and sociologist
Most important publication: Die protestantische Ethik und der ‚Geist‘ des Kapitalismus (1904/05)
But also founder bureaucracy theory (in: „Wirtschaft und Gesellschaft“, 1922)
Bureaucracy as defined by Max Weber
Bureaucracy theory
One of the three classical organizational theories (the others are „Structural Approach“ by Taylor/Fayol und „Human-Relations-Approach“ by Mayo/Rothlisberger)
