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ICP > Bureaucracy > Flashcards

Bureaucracy Flashcards

1
Q

what is the importance of bureaucracy?

A

states are linked to bureaucracy, politicians cannot achieve anything without it

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2
Q

what are two historic examples of bureaucratic reforms?

A

United States: 1883 Pendleton Act (bureaucratic hiring practices)

Iceland: 2010-2013 Civil Reform (after 2008 crisis)

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3
Q

what are Max Weber’s three important characteristics that modern bureaucracy must have?

A
  1. Hierarchical organisation with carefully defined division of tasks
  2. Career-based personnel recruited on the basis of merit
  3. Impersonal application of rules
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4
Q

what is meant by “hierarchical organisation with carefully defined division of tasks”?

A

-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

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5
Q

what is meant by “career-based personnel recruited on the basis of merit”?

A

-bureaucrats are permanently appointed, receiving fix salaries and enjoying some benefits

-promotion occurs on the basis of seniority (time spent in service)

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6
Q

what are the two types of systems for hiring bureaucrats?

A

-merit system
-political (patronage) system

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7
Q

what is the merit system for hiring bureaucrats?

A

bureaucrats are hired based on their professional qualifications and competence, and are not fired for political reasons

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8
Q

what is the political (patronage) system for hiring bureaucrats?

A

bureaucrats are hired and fired based on support or membership of a particular political party, group or individual

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9
Q

what is meant by “impersonal application of rules”?

A

-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

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10
Q

what are the five main promises of Weberian bureaucracy?

A
  1. effectiveness
  2. efficiency
  3. equal treatment of citizens
  4. impersonal application of rules
  5. merit principles as a basis of recruitment
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11
Q

what is meant by “effectiveness” as a promise of Weberian bureaucracy?

A

ensures that things actually get done

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12
Q

what is meant by “efficiency” as a promise of Weberian bureaucracy?

A

ensures that things get done at a low cost

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13
Q

what is meant by “merit principles as a basis of recruitment” as a promise of Weberian bureaucracy?

A

supposed to protect citizens from all types of discrimination (class, gender, race, etc.)

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14
Q

what are the three problems with modern bureaucracy?

A
  1. dictatorship of the official
  2. fragmentation
  3. proliferation
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15
Q

what is meant by “dictatorship of the official” as a problem with modern bureaucracy?

A

permanent bureaucrats become so powerful that they decide what politicians do

supposed to be the other way around

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16
Q

what is meant by “fragmentation” as a problem with modern bureaucracy?

A

different agencies all try dealing with the same issues leading to a fragmented system

17
Q

what is meant by “proliferation” as a problem with modern bureacracy?

A

bureaucracy can be criticised for being an institution that is always expanding, beyond what is necessary

18
Q

which group criticises bureaucracy as a never-ending and always-expanding institution?

A

public choice theorists

19
Q

what do public choice theorists say about bureaucrats?

A

they just follow their private interests (wanting increased budgets and salaries)

20
Q

what are the three types of reforms of modern bureaucracy?

A
  1. increasing politicisation
  2. introducing new institutions and policies
  3. new public managament
21
Q

what is meant by increasing politicisation as a reform of modern bureaucracy?

A

selecting bureaucrats also on political reasons to make sure public policies are applied

22
Q

what are the three ways to increase politicisation in bureaucracies?

A
  1. spoils system
  2. clientelism
  3. nomenklatura
23
Q

what is a spoils system in the context of increasing politicisation in bureaucracies?

A

opposite of merit system

winning party gives government jobs to supporters, friends and relatives as rewards and incentives

24
Q

what is clientelism in the context of increasing politicisation in bureaucracies?

A

state jobs are distributed in a large scale, based on who voted for the winning party (usually friends and relatives)

25
Q

what is nomenklatura in the context of increasing politicisation in bureaucracies?

A

groups of listed people deemed fit to work for government in Eastern Bloc countries

almost all nomenklatura were communist party members

26
Q

what are the two ways to introduce new institutions and policies in bureaucracies?

A
  1. ombudsman
  2. affirmative action
27
Q

what is an ombudsman?

A

(powerless) state officials appointed by parliaments to investigate administrative misconducts

28
Q

what is meant by affirmative action in the context of introducing new institutions and policies in bureaucracies?

A

policies designed to increase representativeness of bureaucracy (i.e. changing composition)

29
Q

what is meant by new public management (NPM) as a reform of modern bureaucracy?

A

introducing new market/business principles and reforms to public administration and bureaucracy

30
Q

where does new public management (NPM) get its origins from?

A

United States (Reagan) and United Kingdom (Thatcher)

31
Q

what are the three core principles of new public management (NPM)?

A
  1. Competition within the public sector
  2. Performance-based employment
  3. Managerial methods of administration
32
Q

what is meant by “competition within the public sector” in the context of new public management (NPM)?

A

introducing incentives whereby competition occurs within the public sector amongst different large entities

33
Q

what is meant by “performance-based employment” in the context of new public management (NPM)?

A

opposing life-long fixed contracts, renewing contracts based on performance, allowing for flexibility

34
Q

what is meant by “managerial methods of administration” in the context of new public management (NPM)?

A

regular performance targets are created within public administration to be achieved

35
Q

how has new public management (NPM) been successful?

A

-all modern bureaucracies have adopted it to a certain extent
-improves efficiency and effectiveness

ICP (12 decks)

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