SOCY 151 - Lecture 20 - Weber on Legal-Rational Authority

Legal-rational authority indicates that authority is invested in a set of rules and rule-bound institutions and that the creating and changing the rules are ... Skiptomaincontent YouarehereHome»Sociology»FoundationsofModernSocialTheory»SOCY151-Lecture20-WeberonLegal-RationalAuthority SOCY151:FoundationsofModernSocialTheory Lecture20 - WeberonLegal-RationalAuthorityOverviewThepurestform–theidealtype–ofWeber’slegal-rationaltypeofauthorityisbureaucracy.Legal-rationalauthorityindicatesthatauthorityisinvestedinasetofrulesandrule-boundinstitutionsandthatthecreatingandchangingtherulesareoutsideofthecontrolofthosewhoadministerthem;itdoesnotmean,however,thattheauthorityisdemocratic.Monarchsandevenauthoritarianleaderswhorecognizeasetoflawsexternaltotheirpowersgovernusinglegal-rationalauthority.Thecharacteristicsofbureaucracyincludeafixedsalary,postsbasedontechnicalskillratherthanpersonalconnections,awell-definedhierarchy,andcontinuousruleswhichbindthebehaviorofadministratorsandcitizensorclientsalike.   Yourbrowserdoesnotsupportthevideotag. LectureChapters IntroductiontoWeber’sTheoryonLegalRationalAuthority PureTypeofLegalRationalAuthority TheBureaucracy LimitationsofBureaucraticAuthority 0 240 1097 2278 Transcript Audio LowBandwidthVideo HighBandwidthVideo htmlFoundationsofModernSocialTheory SOCY151-Lecture20-WeberonLegal-RationalAuthority Chapter1.IntroductiontoWeber’sTheoryonLegalRationalAuthority[00:00:00] ProfessorIvánSzelényi:Goodmorning.Nowtoday’stopicisWeber’stheoryoflegal-rationalauthorityandhistheoryofbureaucracy.Thisisoneofthosequestions–thosetopics–Weberisprobablythebestknownfor.It’salsoarathercomplicatedissue.Whenwearesayinglegal-rationalauthority,webrieflyrefertotheruleoflaw,andwetendtoassociateinourmindtheruleoflawwithliberalmarketeconomiesandtheliberaldemocracies.WellWeberhasaverycomplexargumentaboutthis. Indeed,legal-rationalauthorityisthekindofsystemofauthoritywhichispredictable,becausethereisanobservablelaw,everybodyissubordinatedto,which,infact,hasthemost–theclearestelectiveaffinitywithamarketeconomy.Nevertheless,aswewillsee,hewillarguethat–whichisverycounterintuitive–thatthepuresttypeoflegal-rationalauthorityisbureaucracy;andthisisusuallywhatwedon’thaveinourmindwhenwearethinkingaboutamarketeconomy,thatitisbureaucratic.SowehavetodealwithWeber’sinterestingclaimthatthepuresttypeoflegal-rationalauthority,whichgoestogetherwithamarketcapitalisteconomy,isactuallybureaucracy. It’salsointerestingthatWeberdoesnotmakeanassumptionthatbureaucracy,legal-rationalauthority,orcapitalismnecessarilygoestogetherwithdemocracy.Howdemocracyfitsintothepictureisratherproblematicforhim.Ofcourse,wehavetoappreciatethatinWeber’s–whenWeberwaswritingabouttheseissues,somewherebetween1914and1920,Imean,virtuallynoneofthecountriesintheworldwereliberaldemocraciesoruniversalsuffrage.Thepoliticalsystemsoftheworldchangedsomuchinthelasthundredyears.Butheproblematizesthisrelationship;andit’sactuallyquiteuseful. Sothisistheguidelinefortoday’slecture.AgainIstartwiththedefinitionoftheidealtype,thepuresttypeoflegal-rationalauthority,andthenItrytodigintothisunusualbutveryinfluentialWeberianargument–thatbureaucracy,infact,isthepuresttypeoflegal-rationalauthority.AndthenIwilllookatvariouskindsoflimitationsoftheexerciseofbureaucraticauthority.Oneiscollegiality.Theotherisfunctionaldivisionoflabor–right?–theseparationofvariousbranchesofgovernment,whichisalimitationonbureaucracy,andrepresentation,democracy,isalimitationongovernment.Soyoucanseethatheseesatension–right?–betweendemocracy,bureaucracy,legal-rationalauthorityandcapitalism.TheydonotgoaseasilytogetherasusuallyweAmericanstendtothinkaboutthis.Andthenacoupleofideasabouthisviewaboutdemocracies. Chapter2.PureTypeofLegalRationalAuthority[00:04:00] Okay,soletmestartwithwhatisthepuretypeoflegal-rationalauthority.Andtherearereallytwoissueswehavetoverybrieflytalkabout.Therearedifferentwayshowlawsandnormscanbeestablished.We’realreadybeginningtofeelourwayintotheproblemwhethertheruleoflawanddemocracyareidentical,or,youknow,itcanbedemocratic,ordoesnothavetobethatdemocratic.Andthenthequestioniswhoobeyswhatandwhom,underlegalauthority? Soandabitaboutlegal-rationalauthority.Sotheargumentis–right?–thattherearevariouswayshowlawsornormscanbeestablished.Andwellhesaid,legalauthorityrestsontheacceptanceofthefollowingideas.Right?Well,thenorms,hesaid,canbeestablishedbyagreement–that’swhatweusuallythinkwhenwethinkaboutruleoflaw–orbyimposition;itcanbeimposedonpeople.Right?Anditcanhappenonthegroundofexpediency.Itcanhappenbecausethesearethemostusefullawsandthereforeweeitheragreethatthisiswhatwewanttoobey,orthereisanauthoritywhichtheyimposeonus.Oritcanbebasedonvaluerationality.Itmaynotbethatexpedient,maybenotnecessarilyimmediatelyuseful,butonthebasisofsharedvalues,orthevaluesofthosewhoimposethoselaws–andwetendtobelieveit–wewill–thisisthewayhowitwillbeestablished. Andthen,ofcourse,thelegalsystemhastobesomewhatconsistent–thisisimportantforthepredictabilityofthesystem–andhastobeintentionallyestablished.Right?Thisisnotcomingfromaccident,butintentionallyestablished.ButthemajorpointwhatIwantedtomake–right?–thatlegal-rationalauthority,inWeber’sview,canbeactuallyanauthoritariansystem.Let’ssayChileunderPinochet,thelatertimes,afterheestablished–consolidatedhispower;earlieronitwasatyrannicalrule.Butlateron,Pinochetestablishedalegal-rationalorder,thoughitwasnotdemocraticatall.Right?Itwasoperatingwithalegalsystemwhichwasimposedonpeople.Andinhistorywehaveanumberofinstanceswhenwecansay,“Thisiscountryisacountryoflawandorder.Weknowwhatthelawsare;weactuallythinkthelawsarenotunreasonable.Butitwasimposedbysomepoweruponus.” Nowthenextquestioniswhoobeyswhom?AndwellIdon’twanttodwellonthissolong.Thisisquiteclear.Youalreadyarefamiliarwiththis.Whatisimportant–right?–thepersonwhoisinauthority,whoissuesorders,ishimselfsubjecttoanimpersonalorder.Soweareallsubjecttothesameorder.Thisistheessenceoflegal-rationalauthority,atleastintheidealtype.Right?Weknowtheexceptionstothis.WeknowthatBerlusconi,forinstance,inItaly,thoughItalyisreallyalegal-rationalauthority,foralongtimemanaged–right?–topassalegislationwhichenabledhimtoescapeprosecution;thoughhe’sprobablyinvolvedinanumberofcriminalactivities,butsomehowhemanagedtoescapecriminalprosecution.Butthat’stheexception.Theruleis–right?–thateventhepersonwhoishighestinchargeissubjecttothesameauthorityandhastoobeythelaw.Andthisisagainveryobvious;wealreadycoveredthis,theopposite,themirrorimageofit.Right?Themembersofthesocietyofobedience,tothesuperior,notasanindividual,buttoanimpersonalorder,tothelawassuch.Thatshouldbequiteobvious. Nowsowhatarethemajorcharacteristicsofasystemwhichisbasedonlegal-rationalorder?Thereisacontinuousrule-boundconduct.It’sagain,Ithink,doesnotcallfortoomuchclarification.Itiscontinuouslythesamerules.Theruleschangeslowlyandwithagreatdealofdifficulties,aswecanseehowCongressisstrugglingtopassalawabouthealthcarereform.Ittakesmonthsoryearsbeforeanimportantnewpieceoflegislationgetsintoplace.Andusuallynewpiecesoflegislations,inlegal-rationalauthority,aregrandfathered.Right?Ifyoupassanewlaw,youchangetherulesofthegame,youusuallygrandfatherthem;thosewhoenteredthegamebeforethenewlawarestillundertheruleoftheoldlaw.Wedothatattheuniversitiesallthetime.Right?If,forinstance,thedegreerequirementsdochangeinauniversity,almostalwaysthesedegreerequirementsare–thisnewlegislationisgrandfathered.Youknowtheterminology.Right?Itwillnotapplytopeoplewhoarealreadyintheprogram.Itwillonlyapplytopeoplewhoareenteringtheprogram.Oronewayofgrandfatheringit,thatwegivepeopleachoice.Youknow?Ifyouwanttooperateunderthenewrule,youcanoptforthenewrule;orifyouwanttostayundertheoldrule,youcanstayunderoldrule.Onlyforthosearethenewrulesbindingwhoareenteringthesystemnow.Sothat’sveryimportant–right?–thatitiscontinuousandrule-bound. Andhealsosaidinlegal-rationalauthoritytheremustbeaveryclearseparationofspheresofcompetence.Right?Whoiscompetenttocarryoutwhat?Andthenyoucanalwaysfigureouthowyounavigateinalegal-rationalorder.Youwillbetold,“Well,thisisnotmytable,yougosomewhereelse.”Soyougoandyouasksomethingfromthedirectorofundergraduatestudies,andthedirectorofundergraduatestudiesmightsay,“Goandseethedeanofyourresidentialcollege”–right?–“becausethatisthesphereofcompetenceoftheresidentialcollege.”That’sthewayhowlegal-rationalorderissupposedtooperate.Andthesame,occasionallythedeanofcollegewillsay,“Well,youhavetoseeyoursociologyprofessor,oryoureconomicsprofessor.”Right?Youwanttogettransfercredit,forinstance,forasummercourse,andthenthedeanofcollegewellsaid,“Itisthedepartment”–beitpoliticalscienceoreconomicsoranthropology–“theywillbeabletotellwhetherthiscanbeacceptedasaneconomicscourseatYale.”Right? Andthisalsoimpliesthatthereisalwaysahierarchyandarighttoappeal.Thisis–again,youareveryfamiliarwithit.Youknowexactlyifyougetagradefromyourdiscussionsectionleader,youcanappealtotheprofessortosay,“Well,Idon’tthinkit’safairenoughgrade.Ideserveabettergrade.Mysectionleadermadeanerror.”Andifyouareunhappywiththeresponseoftheprofessor,yougotothechairofthedepartmentandappealtothechair.Thereisawholehierarchyofappeal–right?–whereyoucantrytocorrectwhatyouthinkisnotright.SoIthinkit’sextremelyimportantthatyouknowexactlywhatisthechainofappealandhowfaryoucangoup. Usuallythereisalsosomespecializedtrainingwhichisexpectedforpeopletooccupycertainpositions.Sowelldiscussionsectionleaderswillalwaysbeatleastgraduatestudents;usually,well,peoplecanteachtheirowncourseoncetheywerepassed–theyarePh.D.studentsbutallwhattheyhaveisadissertationtofinish,ortheymusthavetheirPh.D.Right?Sothereisaspecializedtrainingnecessarytoperformcertainfunctions,assuch.Andthat’saninterestingandverycomplexidea–right?–thatthestaffhastobeseparatedfromtheownershipofmeansofproductionandadministration.ThisisevenmoreimportantforWeber’sargument.Beingseparated–it’snotthateasytopenetratewhatheexactlywantstosaywiththis.Whatdoesitmeanthatyoudonotownthemeansofadministration?Itbasicallymeansthatthesourceofrulesandlawsareoutsideoftheadministratorassuch.Ifyouwanttohaveanychangeintherules,theremustbesomeprocedurewhichisbeyondthepersonwhoisadministeringthatrules,howtherulescanbechanged.Right?Thisinorder–youhavetopreventunpredictabilityinthesystem.Andthat’swhyruleschangeallthetime.Butthefundamentalprincipleisthattheserulesshouldnotbeallowedtobechangedbythepersonwhoadministers–right?–thoserules. Sojusttogiveaverytrivialexample,onceyougotyoursyllabusandthecourserequirementandwhatkindofassignmentsyouhavetodeliverduringthecourseinordertogetcreditinthiscourse,thenwellworkingouttheserules,aprofessorplaysarole.ButwehavetogetapprovedbytheCoursesandCurriculumCommittee,andtheninawayweareboundbythoserules.SoonthewayIcouldnotannounceyoutoday,“WellIchangedmymindandtherewillbeanunseenfinalexaminationwhereyouwillhavetogetafinalexamination–right?–andyouwillnotknowwhatquestionsIwillask,andIcanaskanyquestionforthewholecourse.”Right?IfIwouldchange–right?–theserulesrightnow,youwouldhave,I’msure,appealagainstme,againstmydecision.Right?I’mboundbyrules.SothatmeansthatIdon’townthemeansofadministration.Right?Iamadministering–right?–whatisinthesyllabus.Wellthereisalittleleeway.Right?OccasionallyIcangiveyouanextension,forinstance,ifyoucometome.Thereforeit’s–thereisalittleflexibilityinthesystem.Butfundamentallythecourseshouldbetaughtasitisinthesyllabus,andtherequirementsshouldbelikeitisinthesyllabus.That’swhatitmeans–right?–thatyoudonotown–right?–themeansofadministration,unlikeintraditionalauthoritywhereafeudallorddoeshave–doesown,appropriated,somemeansofadministrationfromthemonarch.AndaBritishoraFrenchhigharistocracycouldmakerules;notimplementtherules,butcouldmakerulesaswell. Theuniquefeatureofmodernlegal-rationalauthorityisthatthisbecomesanimpersonalprocess,whichisnotdone–thereisaseparationbetweenthosewhoimplementtherules,andthereisaseparateprocedure–right?–howtherulesarebeingestablished.Isthatreasonablyclear,whatownershipofmeansofadministrationmeans?AsIpointedout,it’saveryWeberianidea.Right?ForMarx–right?–thewholeissueistheownershipofmeansofproduction.ForWeberthisiseverythingabouttheadministrations–themeansofadministration. Chapter3.TheBureaucracy[00:18:17] Okay,nowwecometothisveryinterestingWeberiantheoryofthebureaucracy:veryinteresting,verycontroversial,inmanywaysverycounterintuitive.Youmaysayitisfalse.Wellwewillsee.Thatisanicetopicfordiscussionsections.AndthisiswhatIwillgothrough–anumberofissues.Whatisabureaucracy?Webermakesthisquiteincredibleclaim,whatfirstyouwillcompletelyreject,thatthemostefficientorganizationisthebureaucracy.Right?That’sexactlytheoppositewhatyouthink.Whensomethingisveryinefficient,thenyousay,“Wellthisissobureaucratic.”Right?Weberneverthelessclaimsthatthemostefficientorganizationisbureaucracy. Thenthequestionishowisbureaucracyrelatedtocapitalismandsocialism?Isreallycapitalismabureaucraticorganization?Whatistherelationshipbetweencapitalistmarketeconomyandbureaucracy?Whataretheconsequencesofbureaucracy?Andalsothensomecontradictionofbureaucratization. Nowlet’sjustquicklyrushthroughwhatarethecharacteristicsofabureaucracy.Well,hesaid,“thepuresttypeoflegalauthority”–thisis,asIsaid,counterintuitive–“isthatonewhichemploysabureaucraticadministrativestaff.”Andwellwhatarethecharacteristicsofthisstaffinordertoqualifytobureaucracy?Welltheyhavetobepersonallyfree.Soitcannotbeclients–right?–ofamentor.Right?Theyarelegallyfreeindividuals.Thatmakesitsodifferent–right?–fromatraditionalorganization.That’swhyafamilyisnotabureaucraticorganization,becauseyouarenottherebychoice.Right?Andthenabureaucracyisorganizedintoahierarchyofoffices–thisissomethingwhichbasicallywealreadycovered–andtheofficesarefilledbyafreecontract,andinthiscontractwhatyourqualificationis,that’swhatwecall–right?–meritocracy.Peopledohaveacertaindegree,andthatdegreequalifiesthemtobeincumbentsofacertainoffice. Andtheyreceiveafixedsalary.It’snotquiteabureaucraticorganizationifyouareworkingforacommission.Right?Youarereallyinabureaucraticorganizationwhenyousignacontractandyouknowexactlywhatyourfringebenefitswillbeandwhatyourannualsalarywillbe.Typicallytheofficeisthesoleoccupationoftheincumbents,anditconstitutesacareer.Thisisalsoveryimportant;again,verydifferentfromatraditionalorganizationwherepeoplecouldactuallybeincumbentsofanumberofpositionsandcoulddraw,infact,evenincomesfromanumberofpositions.Inapurebureaucraticorganization,youreallycanhaveonlyasingleoccupation.If,forinstance,somebodyisappointedwithtenuretoYale,andiscomingfromanotherinstitution,he’llhavetoresignfromhisorhertenureattheotherinstitution.IfyouareemployedbyYale,youcanbeonlyaYaleemployee;youcannotholdmultiplejobsatthesametime. Anditconstitutesacareer.Thecareermeansthereisaladder.Youhavesomesensehowyouwillprogressinthisbureaucratichierarchy.Again,universitiesareclassicalbureaucracies–thatyouenterasanassistantprofessor;thenyouare,seventonineyears,dependingontheinstitution,withouttenure;thenyouarebeingpromotedtotenure;thenyouexpectatonepointoftimetobecomeafullprofessor;blah-blah-blah.Right?Thisiswhatitmeant,itisacareer.Andinmanybureaucraticorganizations,eveninthebusinessworld–right?–youhaveasensehowyouprogress.Inalawfirm–right?–ifyouenteralawfirm–right?–youhaveaprettyclearidea;it’sactuallyverysimilartotheuniversities.Usuallyforsevenyearsyouareworkingforthelawfirm,andthat’swhenyoucanbecome–right?–apartnerinthelawfirm.Right?Soyouhaveasensehowyourcareerwillunfold.Wellthisissomethingwealreadykindofcovered–right?–thatyouareseparatedfromthemeansofadministration,becauseyouaresubjectedtodisciplineandcontrol. Nowcomestheverycontroversialidea,andthatwehavetotalkaboutit.Weber’sclaim,whichisverymuchagainstcommonsense,thatthepurelybureaucratictypeofadministrationiscapableofattainingthehighestdegreeofefficiency.Wellletme,ontheotherhand,fromthiscitation,underlineanimportantpointhere.Andthisis–ofcourseWeberwastalkingaboutaveryspecifictypeoforganization,bureaucracies,whichwere,relativelyspeaking,historicallyquiteefficient–right?–thePrussiantypeofbureaucracy.Buthereheemphasizes–andthesearetwoveryimportantwords–“fromthetechnicalpointofview.”Right?Thebureaucracy,fromthetechnicalpointofview,isthemostefficientorganization.Itdoesnotnecessarilymeanthatitdoesachievethehighestwelfareforpeoplewhoareseekingtonavigateinabureaucraticorganization.Buttechnicallyspeaking,itisthemostefficient.Why?Becauseithasaveryhighdegreeofpredictability.Imean,thispredictabilitymightsuggestthatitwilltakeyoualongtimetogetthroughofthatbloodyredtape–right?–whatthebureaucracyimposesonyou.Butyouknowexactlytheredtape,andyouknow,ifyouarestuck,howtotrytoappealandtogettheprocessmoving.Andthereforethecrucialissuehesaid,whythebureaucracyissoefficient,becauseitistechnicallycompetentanditispredictable.Andthisiswhatmakesitactuallyso–tofitsowellwithamarket. Wellhesaid,“Andwhatelse?”Ifitisnotbureaucracy,howcanyouotherwiseorganizeanorganization?Ifitisnotdonebureaucratically,thenitisdilettantism.Right?Andyoumaywanttothinkaboutthis.Nowherecomesthequestionabouthowdoesbureaucracyandcapitalismfitsinto?Andnowhemakesaveryintriguing,veryprovocativeclaim.Ithinkitisverydeep,anddeservesyourattention.Hesaid,“Theprimarysourceofsuperiorityinabureaucraticadministrationliesintechnicalknowledge.”Right?Bureaucracyisdominationthroughknowledge.Well,averyprovocative,veryimportantclaim.Right?Bureaucracyis–right?–theparexcellencemeritocraticorganization–right?–wherepeoplewhoareissuingcommandareissuingcommandwiththeassumptionsthattheyarethemostcompetentpeopletocarrythisout.Wellwhetherthisisthecaseornot–youremember,Weberisalwaysoperatingwithidealtypes,orpuretypes.Theconcretecasesmaybedifferentfromit. Youmayhavepeoplewhoarenotcompetenttoexercisetheauthority,whattheydoexercise.ButIthinkitisimportantthatyouhavetheidealtype,becausethenyoucanbeupset,andyousay,“Thesebloodybastards.”Right?“Itisincompetent;cannotdothejob.”Andthenyoucanappealandtosay,“Whydon’tyouremovethisperson,becausethispersondoesnotknowwhathisorherjobis?”Andactuallysuchappealveryoftenisconsequential.Peopleoccasionallyareremovedtheirpositioniftheirincompetenceisbeingdemonstrated.Wellthisisverydifficulttodoatauniversity,becauseuniversities,wehavethissystemoftenure.Youknow?Afteryou’vesufferedforsevenyearsasanassistantprofessor,youarepromotedtotenure,andthenitisverydifficulttogetyououtofthejob.Butevenattheuniversitythisispossible.IfyoufindoutthatI’mcompletelyincompetent–right?–youdocumentthatIamincompetent–right?–thatIamjustmisinterpretingalltheauthorsyouhadhere.Andthenyoucanappeal–right?–totheuniversity,andyoucansaythatIreallyshouldberemoved;mytenureshouldbeinvoked.AndifI’mfoundtobeincompetent,Iwilllosemyjob;buttheonlywaytodoit,isthroughmyincompetence.Butactuallyuniversitiesveryrarelydoit,becauseit’saverypainfulexercise.Butbecausetheyarebureaucraciesthereis–right?–therulethatitcanhappen,anditshouldhappeninthesecases. Andthenhesaid,“Wellfromthispointofview,itreallydoesnotmatterwhetheraneconomyisorganizedasacapitalisticeconomy,basedonprivateownership,orwhetheritisorganizedasasocialisteconomy,basedonpublicownership.”Right?And,infact,nowhegoesevenfurther;andit’sveryinterestingwhathe’sgottosayhere.He’swritingsomewherein1919,1920.TheSovietUnionalreadyexists,SovietRussiaalreadyexists.Thereisalreadyasocietywhichcallsitselfsocialist,whicheliminatedprivateownership.Andhesaid,“Wellsocialismwouldrequireastillhigherdegreeofformalbureaucratizationthancapitalism.”That’saveryinterestingidea.Thoughuntilnowhesuggested–right?–thatthebureaucraticorganizationfitsthebestwithfreemarketeconomy,nowhesaidactuallysocialismwillbeevenmorebureaucratic. AndthenIthinkwhatcomesvery–it’saveryintriguingidea,andhesaid,“Butthebigproblemwithsocialismisthattherewillbeabigconflictherebetweentheformalrationalityandsubstantiverationality,whatthebureaucracycarriesout.”Andyouknowbynow–right?–oryouhaveatleastahunchwhathe’sgettingatbetweenformalandsubstantiverationality.Right?Formalrationalityisthatyouaresimplyimplementingtherulesofthegame.Substantiverationalityisyouareactuallyconcernedwiththewelfare,thesubstantivegoalsoftheaction.Andhesaid,“Well,ifyouhaveapubliclyownedeconomy,centrallyplannedeconomy,thenthecentralplannersmakesubstantivedecisionsabouttheeconomy.”Theydecide,forinstance,wheregovernmentortaxpayermoneyshouldgoto–whichbranchesoftheeconomyshouldbeinvestmentgoingto.Right?Inacapitalisteconomy,governmentstypicallycannotdothat.Right?Theysettherulesofthegame.Wellthebest–theymanageinterestratesandtheymaybeabletomanagethecurrencyexchangerate,buttheycannotallocateresourcesacrosstheeconomy.Ofiftheydo,thenpeoplewillsay,“Weareontheroadtosocialism.”Right?Totheextentsubstantiverationalityisinvolved. Buthesaid,“Wellifitissocialism,therewillbethisbigtension.”Right?Youcannotbeatthesametimeformallyrationalandsubstantivelyrational.Youeitherconsiderthecontentofyourdecisions,oryouareconcernedsimplywiththeproceduresofthedecision.Ifyouareconcernedwiththeprocedure,thatisformalrationality.Ifyouareconcernedwiththecontent,thatissubstantiverationality. Letmejustgiveyouoneexampleaboutthelegalsystem.Indeed,inCommunistsocieties–andprobablytosomeextentevenChinatoday,muchlesssothanitwaslet’ssaythirtyoffortyyearsago–wellwhenjusticeisbeingservedbythecourt,thecourtisnotblindtowhothepeoplewhoarebeingaccusedofcommittingsomecrimeis.Thecommunistlegalsystemcalleditselfaclasslaw;that,infact,thepurposeofthelegalsystemisnottobeblind–right?–whocommittedthecrime.Thepurposeofthelegalsystemis–thatwasthekindoflegitimacyclaimunderCommunism–todefendtheinterestsoftheworkingclass.Right?Andthereforethatwasspecificallyalegalsystembasedonsubstantiverationality.Right? Wellcapitalistlegalsystemstendtobeprocedurally–right?–rationalistic,formallyrationalistic.Inprincipleitdoesn’tmatterwhothepersoniswhenyouareservingjustice.Thisisagaintheideal.Right?Inconcretecasesactuallyjudgesmightconsidersomesubstantivecharacteristicsofthepersonwhoisontrial,notsimplytoimplementthelaw.Mayconsiderasmitigatingcircumstances–right?–forinstance,whentheyarepassingthelaw.And,ofcourse,thereareotherreasonshowactuallysubstantiveconsiderationsenterthegame.Youknow?Ifyouarewhiteandrich,youcanhireabetterdefenselawyerandyourchancestogetoffthehookwithinthesamerulesarebetter.Sosubstantiveconsiderationsenterthething.Butthat’stheexception;that’snotsupposedtohappen.Weareangrywhenthishappens.Right?Wewanttohaveafacelesslegalsystem.Right?Justiceisblind.Right?Thisblindnessofjusticemeans–right?–thisissimplyprocedurallyjust–right?–andnotsubstantivelyso.Right?Thisiswhyjusticeisshownwithblindeyes. Nowwhataretheconsequencesofbureaucratization?Herearesomeofthem.Hesaidthereisatendencyoflevelingofinterest;sinceeverybodyisinprincipleequalbeforethelawandthereforeinterestwillbeleveled.Youarenotsupposedtotakeintoaccountpeople’spositioninit.Wellthereisatendency–meritocratictendency–thatpeoplehigherupwillhavehigherlevelsoftraining,ormoretraining,assuch.And–thisisagainjusticeisblind–whatisimportantisthattheessenceofabureaucracyhastobeaformalisticimpersonality:sineiraetstudio,withouthatredandpassion.Right?Thisiswhyoccasionallyyouarekindofupsetwhenyouareconfrontedwiththebureaucracy.Youhaveaspecialproblem–youknow?–andthenthebureaucracytendstobeinsensitivetoyourspecialproblem–right?–whenitisarealbureaucracy.Right?Youcansay,“IjusthadafightwithmypartnerandthisiswhyIcannottakethetest.”Well,sineiraetstudio.Imean,inarealbureaucratic,discussionleaderorprofessorwillsay,“Toobad.Thisisyourpersonalbusiness.Thetestisrightnow.”Right?“Youtakeitorleaveit.”Well,Imean,weareusuallynotthatstupidbureaucrats.Butthat’sthespiritofbureaucracy.Right?Withouthatredandpassion;thatalsomeansthatyouarenotmotivatedbypersonalfeelings.Youdon’tdifferentiatethisisapersonIlikeandthenIgivepreferences;ordislike,andthereforegiveaworsegrade. Allright,thereareanumberofcontradictionsofbureaucracy.Itisveryformalistic.Andhesaidthereisalsoanotherinterestingtendency.Thoughitisformalisticandit’ssupposedtogosimplybytherules,occasionally,notonlyundersocialism,inallsystemsthebureaucracytendstohavesomesensitivitytosubstantiverationality,tothewelfareofthepeoplewhoareunderthebureaucracy.Andthenitcanbeturnedintoaclientalisticsystem;thebureaucracycanhavethesetendencies.Andthinkaboutwelfarebureaucracies–right?–whichdohaveagreatdealofclientalistictendenciesbuiltintothem. Chapter4.LimitationsofBureaucraticAuthority[00:37:58] Well,andtherearethesevariouslimitationsofbureaucraticauthority.Oneiscollegiality,divisionofpowers,andrepresentation.WellIdon’twanttodwelltoolongonthenotionofcollegiality.Collegiality,hesays,reallygrowsoutofwhatweknewasprofessionalgroupsorprofessionalorganizations.Therearedifferentwayshowcollegialitycanoperate.Oneway–thatmeansthatyouareinteractingwithotherpeopleinthesameorganization,onthebasisofcollegiality.Youcangetagoodsenseofthiscollegiality;forinstance,it’sveryimportantinthemedicalprofession.Ifyougotoadoctorforasecondopinion,thisdoctorisreallynotsupposedtosaythathisorhercolleague,theotherdoctor,reallyscreweditandhegaveyouthewrongdiagnosisorthewrongtherapy.Right?Collegialitymeansthatyousticktogether–right?–thattheprofessionstickstogether.Thereisaverystrongsenseofcollegialityamonglawyers,oratleastsupposedtobe.Theethicofthelegalprofessionisverymuchcollegiality. Anditisalsoincidentallyintheuniversities.Imean,facultyisnotsupposedtobadmoutheachother.Right?Theycertainly,towardsstudents,theyhavetoshowthattheyhaveacollegialrelationshipwitheachother.Mutualrespectbindsthemtogether.Occasionallythereiswhathecallsvetocollegiality;thecollegialitydoesgivevetorighttocertainpeopletorunthisorganization.Asinglepersoncanvetoadecision,assuch.Again,verytypicalinuniversitieswhenitcomes,forinstance,toadecisionwhethersomebodywillbegrantedapermanentpositioninauniversity;so-calledtenure,thereisactually–thepresidentoftheuniversityusuallyhasavetorightandcanveto.Nomatterthatallbodiesapprovedthat,thepresidentusuallyhasavetoright–canvetothatdecision.Itusesitveryrarely,butoccasionallyitdoesuseitsvetoright.Soeveninacollegiallyorganizedbureaucracy,thereistheseindividualvetorights;otherwise,collegialityusuallyoperatesthroughthedifferentcommitteesandadvisoryboards.Imean,collegialityusuallyisemerginginasituationwhereyouhaveacommontradeoracommonprofession.That’swhenagroupisbeingorganizedasacollegialbureaucracy,assuch.Andmanyofyouwillendupinprofessionsinwhichyouwillhavesuchacollegialenvironment,assuch.Okay. Theotherissueis–whichisalsoalimitationofthefunctioningofthebureaucracy–right?–collegialitymeant–right?–thatthoughthebureaucracyissupposedtobeblindtoindividualdifferences,it’snotalways,becausewehaveloyaltiestowardseachother,basedonourprofession.Lawyersareloyaltolawyers,anddoctorsareloyaltofellowdoctors,andprofessorshaveadegreeofloyalty. Nowtheotheroneisdivisionofpowers.Wellthisdivisionofpowers,whatLockeandMontesquieuandRousseauweretalkingabout,wellit’safunctionalsystem–hecitesMontesquieuabouttheseparationofpower–andthatcreatessomedegreeofunpredictabilityinthesystem;butnecessary,butcreatessomedegreeofunpredictability.Nevertheless,thisisthewayhowtopreventtyranny.Sothereforeitisgoodfortheeconomy;bywhathemeansforthemarketeconomy. Andthencomesthequestionofrepresentations,anddifferentformsofrepresentations.Wellthereare–again,representationscanbedemocratic,butisnotnecessarilyallthatbloodydemocratic.Infact,thereisapossibilityofrepresentationwhentherepresentationishappeningthroughsomehereditarymeans.Traditionalauthority;peoplewhowerebornincertainpositions,likeMontesquieuhimself,wassupposedtorepresentcertaininterests,whichisbeyondthepersonalinterestsoftheperson–right?;wassupposedtorepresenttheinterestsofthewholeestate,whatitwasstandingfor.Wellit’salso–inmoderntimeswedohavearepresentationwhererepresentationscanbeselectedbyrotationorlot–inAncientGreecethishappened–andtherecanbealimitedmandate;theyarenotrepresentingnecessarilytheinterestoftheconstituencyandtheycanberecalled.ThiswastypicalofCommunistbureaucracies.Ortherecanbewhathecallsfreerepresentation–it’swhatwewouldassociatetodemocracy–wheretherepresentativeiselected,ratherthanselectedorappointed. Butitisalsonotboundbyinstructions;isonlyobligedtoexpresshisownconviction.SothisiswhatwehaveseenintheCongresshappening.Right?ThatDemocratsvotedwithRepublicans,becausethoseDemocratsargued,“I’mnotunderpartydiscipline.”Right?“Iamactingoutofmyconscience.” Wellacoupleofideasaboutfreerepresentation,andhowitgoeswithacapitalisteconomy.Wellwhatiscrucial–right?–andWeberkeepscomingbackandbacktothis–whatisvitalforacapitalisteconomyistobecalculabilityandreliability.Andwellinearlystages,infact,therewaspropertyqualification,whocouldactuallyvote,andthatwasimplementedinordertomakethesystemmorepredictableforthepropertiedclasses.Therewasagreatdealofconcernbythebourgeoisietogiveuniversalsuffrage,becausetheyfeltthenthiswillbeunpredictable,whowillwintheelections. Infact,veryoften,theseweremonarchsandabsolutistmonarchs,whowerepushingforextension–right?–ofsuffrage,becausetheywantedtousethisagainstthepropertiedbourgeoisie.That’sagainsomethingverycounterintuitive,butIthinkhistoricallyaveryaccurateunderstanding.Right?Soonehastobeverycarefulwhatexactlytherelationshipwithacapitalisteconomicorderanddemocracyis.WellsoWeber’sfundamentalargumentiswhatmanypeoplewhodothehistoryofthedemocraticmovementwillagree;otherswilldisagreewithhim.Again,agoodsubjectfordiscussion.Parliamentaryfreerepresentationwastheproductbetweenstruggles;actuallystrugglesbetweenmonarchsandthebourgeoisie.WellIthinkI’lljustleavethishere.Iprobablygaveusenoughfoodforthediscussion.Thankyou. [endoftranscript] BacktoTop mp3 mov[100MB] mov[500MB] <> Assignment Weber, EconomyandSociety,Chapter3,pp.217-226;271-301