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This is a blog for a community of students in Mike Levien's sections of Sociology 101B: "Sociological Theory," in the Department of Sociology at the University of California, Berkeley, Spring 2009.
Theory Rocks!
This is the informal blog spot for Mike Levien's section of Sociology 101B. For the rest of the semester, we'll use this blog to clarify the work(s) of Durkheim, Weber, Foucault, de Beauvoir, MacKinnon, and Collins. Feel free to endlessly post, and don't forget: Theory Rocks!
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2009
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April
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- Bureaucracy in concrete
- Weber's Rational Bureaucracy within East Bay Conso...
- Bureaucracy and the Human Rights Campaign
- Military and Rational Bureaucracy
- The Spirit of Capitalism
- Rational Bureaucracy and Safe Passage
- Weber's Rational Bureaucracy in Maganda
- An Institution of Rational Bureaucracy
- Weber's Rational Bureaucracy and the Children's Sh...
- Rational Bureaucracy in Professional Baseball
- This short memo illustrates the fundamental featu...
- Rational Bureaucracy in The Western Hemisphere Ins...
- Bureaucracy in School
- Weber's Rational Bureaucracy in Public High Schools
- Rational Bureaucracy in the American Red Cross
- Weber' Bureaucracy in a Middle School Tutoring Agency
- Bureaucracy and the Men's Story Project
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In Bureaucracy, Weber defines rational bureaucracy as a dehumanized superstructure capable of conducting business according to “calculable rules” (215). In order for Weber’s rational bureaucracy to exist, four historical pre-conditions must be simultaneously met. The first, money economy, enables compensation to officials (204). Next, the expropriating the means of administration dispossesses corrupt officials of their power (215). Thirdly, Roman law, because of the increase in the complexity of legal cases, accompanied by an increase in a rational economy, demanded qualified experts executing trial procedures (218). Lastly, democracy, which homogenizes social differences (224). Once the aforementioned have developed the features of the institution and the orientation of the official evolves out of the traditional structure ( patrimonialism)
ReplyDeleteThere are six features of the institution. First, a fixed jurisdiction, this rids personal ties and allows qualified personal, whom are bounded by rules, to have fixed duties (196). Secondly, hierarchy of positions becomes prevalent. Thirdly, management through documents in contrast to custom and practice is established. Fourth, management presupposes expert training, no longer presupposes loyalty. Fifth, officials are full time, no longer a fusion between work and home. Lastly, management is no longer through privileges and favors; instead they are through rules (197-198). These six features are followed by an official’s bureaucratic orientation. The devotion of duty comes from the sense of vocation an official has. Their position is followed through appointment, avoiding obedience towards who elected them. Once appointed, they are accompanied by high social esteem, status that creates a sense of honor. They are compensated with tenure; this creates a sense of job security. Finally they are rewarded according to position. Hence, they view their job as a career (198-203). Furthermore, rational bureaucracy is seen within Homeland Security: Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Before delving into how rational bureaucracy is depicted in ICE, it is important to note that the four historical preconditions are met. The institution is located in the United States, a democratic country based on a thriving money economy, whose administration is expropriated and where Roman law is evident. Likewise, the institution carries the features in the institution following in the orientation of the official set out by Weber’s rational bureaucracy.
The immigration and customs enforcement sector of homeland security is a large institution. In order to efficiently pursue goals, this institution offers different positions entailing different duties—fixed jurisdiction—such as Acting Assistant ( John P. Torres) is above Deputy Assistant Secretary for management ( Theresa Bertucci). It is important to note that these duties are carried out away from home. Moreover, these positions contain a clear hierarchy, for example, the highest position is that of Torres, trickling down to the Acting director. In order to receive a position, individuals need to prove they are qualified for the position—expert training—they prove this through their past experience. Upon attaining a position, it is vital for institution to follow policies and laws set out by the government. They prove they are following the rules through documentation. Moreover, the official experiences orientation to action, for example Torres. Upon appointment, Torres job became a career and as duty to the country, where status became prevalent upon position. Also, he given a salary according to his hired position and receives tenure. Therefore, ICE is a rational bureaucracy.