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Riggsian Model and their Critique
Chapter: Comparative Public Administration
Administrative Theory
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Riggsian Model and their Critique
The Agraria and the Industria.
Fused-Prismatic - Refracted (Later Diffracted).
Prismatic Society:-
Formalism.
Heterogeneity.
The Bazar-Canteen Model.
The Intelligentsia and Counter-elites.
Clects.
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Contd..
Overlapping.
The "Sala" Prismate Administration.
Criticism of Riggsian Model.
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The Agraria and the Industria
The Agraria and the Industria
Riggs constructed two models of societies one
predominantly industrial called the Industria, and the
other predominantly agricultural called the Agraria.
These are the two polar types representing
contemporary America, and Imperial China
respectively. The third category representing the
middle of the above two societies was named by him
as transitia. The main features of the two types
were:
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Fused-Prismatic-Refracted
(later Diffracted)
These models were later abandoned by Riggs in favour of a
new scheme of models. As said earlier, Riggs uses structural-
functional analysis to explain his constructs of fused,
prismatic and refracted societies. These three categories can
be broadly identified with traditional or under-developed,
developing and developed or industrial societies. He admits
that no society completely possesses all the characteristics of
his model, and may posses some features of the other
category. For example, the Untied States of America is a
refracted society, yet it may possess some features of the
prismatic type. The extreme fused and refracted positions
are probably not possible and would doubtless also be
undesirable."
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The focus of Riggs analysis of the study of certain key
elements of the social structures in a prismatic society,
and their interaction with the administrative sub-system
of that society described by him as Sala. A prismatic
society is characterized by selectivism (intermediate
category between universalism and particularism),
attainment (intermediate category between achievement
and ascription), and poly-functionalism (intermediate
category between functional specificity and functional
diffuseness). The basic characteristic of prismatic society
are:
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Previous Year Questions
Q.1 'Rigg's classification of societies into fused, prismatic, and
diffracted is built around the concept of differentiation.' Analyze.
(15 marks 2012)
Q.2 "The Prismatic model of Riggs is equally applicable to
developing as well as developed society." Comment. (20 marks
2010)
Q.3 Which of the model(s) in development administration is/are
characterised by 'Selectivism', 'Attainment' and 'Poly-
functionalism'? Describe the corresponding theoretical roots and
attributes. (30 marks 2009)
Q.4 "Not to be comparative is to be naively parochial" (Riggs).
Comment. (20 marks 2007)
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