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Webber and Bureaucracy: How did the German sociologist's theories change the face of public administration?
Public administration is an important field that covers managing government policy, executing public programs, and translating politics into reality. This category is not just simple administrative implementation, but also the academic study of how public policies are formed and implemented. The bureaucracy theory proposed by German sociologist Max Weber in the early 20th century had a profound impact on the entire face of public management.
Weber's theory introduced the concept of bureaucracy, believing that this system can improve administrative efficiency and ensure impartiality and professionalism.
Public administration is defined as the "management of public affairs," which includes all aspects of government-related decision-making and policy writing. In addition to explaining this process, it is also necessary to delve into how public administration affects the daily lives of citizens. Weber regarded bureaucracy as the most rational institution in modern society, emphasizing its characteristics such as division of labor, standardization of rules and procedures.
He argued that this structure can minimize subjectivity in government decision-making and improve the transparency and efficiency of public management.
Weber's bureaucracy is not an immutable structure. It reflects the changes in society's needs for government agencies at that time. With the development of industrialization and acceleration of urbanization, the government is facing more and more challenges. Weber believed that the structure and operation of bureaucracy could effectively cope with these challenges and become the cornerstone of modern government.
Weber's theory made people re-examine the value of public management and promoted attention to professional public managers. His views not only influenced the academic field, but also caused an upsurge in government reorganization and administrative reform. Especially in the Minnowbrook Conference in the United States in the 1960s, he once again echoed Weber's ideas and emphasized the necessity and function of public administration.
Scholars call for the concept of new public management, requiring a more policy-oriented public administration and introducing themes such as "relevance", "values", "equity" and "change".
In the second half of the 20th century, the development of public administration experienced another turning point. The rise of the New Public Management (NPM) model marks the introduction of private sector ideas into the public sphere. Many scholars and policymakers advocate that the management of public services should draw lessons from the business model of enterprises and emphasize efficiency and service orientation.
However, this change has also caused widespread discussion. Critics point out that treating citizens as "customers" may cause public services to lose their social and democratic character. The fundamental purpose of public administration is to provide services to people, and this should not be limited to considerations of economic efficiency.
The NPM policy promoted by politicians such as Al Gore in the 1990s returned public management to the path of efficiency and "customer" orientation, but seemed to ignore the real needs of citizens.
As time goes by, the continuing impact of public administration on society becomes increasingly apparent. From Weber's theory of bureaucracy to the questioning and improvement of public management in today's society, they all show the evolution and application of public administration scholarship. Today's public administration faces new challenges, such as technological advancement, citizen participation and the impact of globalization, which require public institutions to continuously adjust to reflect social changes.
Overall, public administration is not only about the construction of theory, but also the embodiment of practice. The influence of Weber's bureaucracy theory still exists in modern times. It challenges the existing public management structure and responds to changes in public expectations of government. We should reflect on how future public administration will be adjusted to meet the needs and expectations of modern citizens.
