Weber Flashcards
What are the defining features of capitalism according to Weber?
- profit-driven 2. utilizes calculation/bookkeeping 3. characteristic of West (due to free labor, which enables rational calculation) 4. uncoerced relations between capital and labor
What are the defining features of bureaucracy?
- fixed jurisdiction 2. hierarchy of offices 3. written documents 4. experts with training 5. work/home separate 6. manage via rules
What are the characteristics of bureaucratic officials?
- receive social esteem 2. appointed 3. tenure for life 4. reward based on status (not labor) 5. internal career, promotion
How do the characteristics of bureaucratic officials differ from the officials in Lenin’s Dictatorship of the Proletariat?
In contrast to Weber’s, Lenin’s officials 1. have no special status 2. are elected 3. subject to recall 4. receive an ordinary wage 5. there’s no hierarchy due to simplified tasks
What is the secret to bureaucracy’s durability?
- technical superiority 2. near permanence(?) 3. discipline and interdependence within
What does democracy look like?
For Weber, mass democracy is passive. The people do not govern, but are governed, and only have a say in how that is done through the election of leaders.
What is the relationship between bureaucracy and democracy?
Mass democracy leads to bureaucracy. But democracy can provide oversight and reign in the power (secrecy, credentials) of bureaucracy.
Lenin v. Weber on democracy
- Lenin says passive democracy protects capitalism, Weber that it contains bureaucracy 2. Weber argues that bureaucracy is permanent so revolution impossible 3. For Lenin, our best is active democracy, for Weber, it’s passive democracy.
Historical thrust of modern era according to Weber
Rationalization: society (through bureaucracy in particular) becomes more systematic, coherent
