“Democracy within bureaucracy is likely to reduce its effectiveness.” Do you agree with this view? Argue your case.

[PUB AD- Answer writing]

UPSC mains 2015

[McGregor]

Democracy in Weberian bureaucratic organizations have its profound impact over its effectiveness. 

Advantages 

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1. Promotes participation among members thereby securing more objective and rational decision meeting long term demands of the organization.

2. Overcome bureau pathologies like red tape, ivory tower exercise , elitism etc thereby making it more responsive and effective in service delivery.

3. It helps bureaucracy to evaluate its progress not from techno-economic efficiency but moral and social efficiency as well. 

   eg, Mere creation of school will be ineffective unless literacy levels of people are not improved.

4. Enhances communication of objectives whereby boosting motivation to work and team morale as a whole while simultaneously securing greater coordination between line and staff agencies.

5. Prevents monopolization of information by top hierarchy, this overcomes information gap and bolster effectiveness of line agencies or cutting edge functionaries. E governance through centralized repository has brought democracy in bureaucracy. 

Disadvantages 

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1. Democracy has capacity to introduce populist ideas which makes policy formulation incrementalist in nature.(Lindbloom)

2. Lobbying among different interest groups within the organization results in greater red tapism in decision making process.

3. Hierarchy is a means to secure stability by reducing systemic entropy which goes against flatter participatory structures of democracy . Simultaneous , execution of both structure will create confusion and anarchy.

4. Proceduraly too democracy works in bottom up manner as opposed to top down approach.

Conclusion

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As such there is no contradiction between democratic culture in bureaucratic organizations. This is because , in developing countries like India , the situational dynamics are different wherein bureaucracy should be change oriented in variance to classical status quoist organizations. In India, participatory decision making as fostered by institutions like District administration has infact improved service delivery and effectiveness of bureaucratic organizations.