Bureaucracy

Positive contributions

Bureaucracies were distinct from the former feudal system where people were promoted through favoritism and bribes[7] because now there was a set of rules that are clearly defined; there was promotion through seniority[8] and disciplinary control. Weber believes that this influenced modern society[9] and how we operate today, especially politically.[10]

Weber’s characteristics of an ideal bureaucracy:[11]

1. Hierarchy of authority

2. Impersonality

3. Written rules of conduct

4. Promotion based on achievement

5. Specialized division of labor

6. Efficiency

Weber believed that bureaucracies are goal-oriented organizations that are based on rational principles that are used to efficiently reach their goals.[12] However, there are constraints within this bureaucratic system.[13]

Costs of bureaucracies

“Rational calculation . . . reduces every worker to a cog in this bureaucratic machine and, seeing himself in this light, he will merely ask how to transform himself… to a bigger cog… The passion for bureaucratization at this meeting drives us to despair.”[21]

* Loss of individuality;[22] labor is now being sold to someone who is in control, instead of individuals being artisans and craftsmen and benefiting from their own labor.[23]

* Loss of autonomy; others are dictating what an individual’s services are worth.[24]

* Individuals develop an obsession with moving on to bigger and better positions, but someone else will always be determining the value of our achievements.[25]

* Lack of individual freedom; individuals can no longer engage in a society unless they belong to a large scale organization [7] where they are given specific tasks in return for giving up their personal desires to conform to the bureaucracy’s goals[26] and are now following legal authority.[27]

* Specialization; with specialization, society becomes more interdependent and has a less common purpose.[28] There is a loss in the sense...