1 Max Weber’s Bureaucracy: Bureau-pathology in Bangladesh

University of Dhaka
Department of Public Administration

Course Tittle: Introduction to Public Administration

Course Code: 111

Assignment on Max Weber’s Bureaucracy: Bureau-pathology

in Bangladesh

Submitted to:

Md. Shariar Islam, Assistant Professor

Department of Public Administration

University of Dhaka

Submitted by:

Towhidul Islam, BSS, First semester

Roll: SS -077-042

Session: 2015-2016

Department of Public Administration

University of Dhaka

Date of Submission: 7, May, 2016

 2 Max Weber’s Bureaucracy: Bureau-pathology in Bangladesh

The word bureaucracy derived from “bureau” and “cracy”. The word “bureau” means office
or desk and “cracy”means power or rule. Thus bureaucracy means desk government.

Bureaucracy is a hierarchical organization which follows strict rules and regulations in

achieving desired goals and which has tendency to gain supremacy over other organizations.
Famous German sociologist theorized ideal- type of bureaucracy. Max Weber thought
bureaucracy is the highest efficient organization which falls under legal rational authority.
Soon after the theory came out, like other theory, ideal-type bureaucracy theory
encountered severe criticisms. Alvin Gouldner, Robert Merton, Phillip Selznick, Peter Blau
are some of them who criticized the ideal-type of bureaucracy.

With the creation of new states and the intervention of government in everyday life of
citizens necessitated the need for ideal-type of bureaucracy. Everywhere whether in
developed or developing nations, bureaucratic structure is a common phenomenon.

The environment and the state of affairs in which Max Weber developed the theory of
bureaucracy were different from the present welfare states. Modern states are complex and
difficult to maintain thus the validity of bureaucracy is questioned in the face of these
challenges.

The Development of a country to a large extent depends on how the bureaucracy of that
country functions. As bureaucracy gives input in policy making, implements those and
evaluate outcome of an implemented policy, it is most important to have a well-functioning
bureaucracy. In this sense the goodwill of the party running the government depends on
bureaucracy.

Adaptability and reciprocity problems , as mentioned by Warren Bannis, make bureaucracy

dysfunctional. And to eliminate dysfunctional aspects in bureaucracy, it needs to be
reformed and adapted to the contemporary changes. Not only bureaucracy needs to adapt
to the contemporary world but also to be client oriented rather than too formalistic and
impersonal. It is important, as no alternative of bureaucracy exists, to redefine to regain the
trust of people whom it is supposed to render services.

In the context of Bangladesh, some major problems that create bureau-pathology are
identified here.

 Bureaucracy in Bangladesh suffers due to politicization of administration, mass

promotion and transfer, usually under political consideration. This deprives many
qualified candidates and breeds discontent among the bureaucrats. (Khan, 2012)
. And being demotivated and discontent they reduce their output, some resort to
corruption. Not only political affiliation dependent promotion demotivates but also
it deprives citizens from the service of qualified bureaucrats. As a result, overall
performance of bureaucracy slows down.
 3 Max Weber’s Bureaucracy: Bureau-pathology in Bangladesh

 There exists human resource quality problem in Bangladesh bureaucracy.

Public employees educated up to intermediate level 56%

Bachelor Degree 18%
University graduates 19%

The quality of bureaucracy influences of the performance of bureaucracy.

(Abdullah, 2011).

 Due to bureaucratic extreme formalistic nature, the immediately needed service is

delayed. Humanitarian aspects in rendering basic services by the state are also
delayed. Bureaucracy oftentimes fails to respond in time even in formulation of new
policy, or implementation of development project. As a result, formulation of new
rules and regulations is delayed. The development project taken by government see
no progress.
 Bureaucracy is criticized for being a constant threat to parliamentary democracy as it
is permanent where each government with scheduled tenure find bureaucracy
superior as it command over information and expertise( Zafarullah,1992, p. 1). As a
result, political executives try to protect the interest of bureaucrats subordinating
the general interest.
 Corruption, by and large, a threat to modern welfare country as it has damaging
effect on the development progress and overall functions of government.
Corruption is abuse of power for personal gain. Large amount of allocated money
goes to the a few corrupt people without any consequences. Abuse of rules and
regulations is another example of corruption. Yearly published Global Perception
Index on Corruption by TA lists Bangladesh 139 out of 168 due to widespread
corruption in administration of Bangladesh (TI, 2015). Due to obsolete, vague rules
and regulations, bureaucracy depends on the discretion of individual thus paving
the way for corrupt behavior. Excessive dependency of political parties on
bureaucracy is also one of the causes that raise corruption. Bureaucracy is large and
permanent organization and on the other hand political executives are temporary
and often lack knowledge in specific fields he or she is working on.

 Women in civil service are underrepresented. Political preference over merit,

prejudices toward women’s ability to discharge administrative jobs etc. make
women underrepresented .As a result, policy protecting women’s interest cannot be
formulated. Thus half of the population is derived of government social and
economic welfare schemes.
4 Max Weber’s Bureaucracy: Bureau-pathology in Bangladesh

 Ruling party's use of bureaucracy for political gain to stay in power also make
bureaucrats corrupt as bureaucrats think they deserve government favor, or restore
to corruption as nobody is going to hold them accountable.
 Accountability in bureaucracy is negligible. Due to its vastness and varied functions
it is always not possible to monitor and hold the bureaucrats accountable. Rather
those who were supposed to hold bureaucracy in check are often alleged to be
corrupt or complicit in corruption. Political executives feel helpless before
bureaucracy as every political party hopes to stay in power.

 Bureaucracy in Bangladesh is the legacy of British colonial bureaucracy. But it is to a

great extent influenced by the British imperialist heritage. Before the division of
Indian – subcontinent the British rulers devised bureaucracy such a way as to
perpetuate the ruling over people. After the independence state of bureaucracy
derived from British colonial legacy has not been remained unchanged (khan, 2013).

Various reform efforts to reform bureaucracy to keep consistency with the socio-
cultural environment of Bangladesh were taken; due to barriers those reform efforts
had not been successful. Lack of political commitment, resistance from the
bureaucrats, corruption, and politicization of bureaucracy were the major barriers
that are worth mentioning. Thus bureaucracy fails to serve the people with present
needs and demands.

 In Bangladesh, bureaucrats are recruited through Civil Service Examination which is

neither free from criticism from different quarters. Political preference over merit,
lack of proper exam system, Never ending quota system, at present 55 percent
quota reserved in Bangladesh , are some of the causes that are said to be
undermining the credibility of Max Weber's one of the characteristics, namely
Qualified selection process. Productivity of civil servants is getting affected as a
result.

 Lack of Transparency, bureaucracy is supposed to keep record of its daily activities

and is law bound to give any information concerned with government activities
sought by citizen’s .But though to ensure RTI from government official’s law was
enacted but information from bureaucracy is hard to be taken. This undermines the
credibility of the bureaucracy and leads to administrative corruption.

These dysfunctional aspects crippled bureaucracy in Bangladesh. The bureaucracy

often fails to render smooth and timely service to citizens. To get out of this crux,
long awaited reform is of outmost importance.
 5 Max Weber’s Bureaucracy: Bureau-pathology in Bangladesh

References

1. Abdullah, M.M. 1011. Reform in bureaucracy. The Daily Star, (online) 12 April.
Available at: http://www.thedailystar.net/news-detail-181363(accessed on 12 April
2011)
2. TI, 1025. CORRUPTION BY COUNTRY / TERRITORY.(online).Available at
https://www.transparency.org/country/#BGD (Accessed on 18 April 2026)
3. Khan, M.M., 2013, Bureaucracy in Bangladesh: A Reformist Perspective. Dhaka:
Institute of Governance Studies (2013)
4. Khan, S., 2012. State of bureaucracy in Bangladesh and its reform. Financial Express,
(online) 4 November .Available at: http://print.thefinancialexpress-
bd.com/old/index.php?ref=MjBfMTFfMDRfMTJfMV82XzE0ODg0NA (Accessed on 25
April 1026) .
5. Zafarullah, H., 1992. Understanding Bureaucracy. Dhaka: Academic Publishers.