Bureaucracy

Author(s)

• Beetham, David

Bibliographic Information

Bureaucracy

David Beetham

（Concepts in the social sciences）

Open University Press, 1996

2nd ed

• : hbk
• : pbk

Note

Previous ed.: 1987

Includes bibliography (p. [109]-116) and index

Description and Table of Contents

Volume

: pbk ISBN 9780335196548

Description

Comments on the first edition: "... a clear and compelling analysis of one of the most pervasive, and also poorly-understood, features of contemporary society" Teaching Philosophy "For any student the book is perfect because it both introduces the reader to the principal theories, and illustrates the impossibility of a neutral, unengaged, or purely technical understanding of the subject" The Times Higher Education Supplement "In this useful introductory book, Beetham distills important themes from the massive literatures on bureaucracy and presents them in a clear, crisp, intelligent way" Ethics * What is bureaucracy? * Are people right to see it as synonymous with red-tape, feather-bedding and inefficiency? * Can it be controlled by politicians, or made more responsive to citizens? Is it only confined to the public sector, or is it pervasive throughout all modern organizations? These are only some of the questions addressed in David Beetham's concise and wide-ranging study. This second edition provides a clear guide through the disciplines of economics, sociology and political science, and through competing social theories, including structural, cultural and rational choice approaches. It also offers its own synthesis which goes beyond them. The second edition has been revised and updated in the light of recent academic and political developments. For anyone who wants a lucid introduction to the meaning and significance of bureaucracy, and its relation to democracy, this book is essential reading.

Table of Contents

Preface Introduction Part one: Models of bureaucracy Bureaucracy and administrative efficiency The sociology of organization Political economy Public administration Overview Bureaucracy and policy formation Conclusion Part two: Theories of bureaucratic power Weberian political sociology The irreversible expansion of bureaucracy The socialist illusion The theory of leadership democracy Marxist political economy Capitalism and bureaucracy Bureaucratic degeneration of the proletarian revolution Beyond bureaucracy? Conclusion Part three: Bureaucracy and democratic theory Democracy and administrative efficiency Democracy and bureaucratic power Conclusion Further reading Bibliography Index.

Volume

: hbk ISBN 9780335196555

Description

What is bureaucracy? Are people right to see it as synonymous with red-tape, feather-bedding and inefficiency? Can it be controlled by politicians, or made more responsive to citizens? Is it only confined to the public sector, or is it pervasive throughout all modern organizations? These are only some of the questions addressed in David Beetham's concise and wide-ranging study. This second edition provides a clear guide through the disciplines of economics, sociology and political science, and through competing social theories, including structural, cultural and rational choice approaches. It also offers its own synthesis which goes beyond them. The second edition has been revised and updated in the light of recent academic and political developments. For anyone who wants a lucid introduction to the meaning and significance of bureaucracy, and its relation to democracy, this book is essential reading.

Table of Contents

• Part 1 Models of bureaucracy: bureaucracy and administrative efficiency
• the sociology of organization
• political economy
• public administration
• overview
• bureaucracy and policy formation
• conclusion. Part 2 Theories of bureaucratic power: Weberian political sociology
• the irreversible expansion of bureaucracy
• the socialist illusion
• the theory of leadership democracy
• Marxist political economy
• capitalism and bureaucracy
• bureaucratic degeneration of the proletarian revolution
• beyond bureaucracy?
• conclusion. Part 3 Bureaucracy and democratic theory: democracy and administrative efficiency
• democracy and bureaucratic power
• conclusion
• further reading.

by "Nielsen BookData"

Details

• NCID: BA27954435
• ISBN:
  • 0335196551
  • 0335196543
• Country Code: uk
• Title Language Code: eng
• Text Language Code: eng
• Place of Publication: Buckingham
• Pages/Volumes: vi, 120 p.
• Size: 22 cm
• Classification:
  • DC20 : 302.35
• Subject Headings:
  • LCSH : Bureaucracy
  • LCSH : Organizational sociology
• Parent Bibliography ID:
  • BA0027664X