Max Weber’s theory of bureaucratic rationalization and its contribution to the paradigm of the industrial society

Abstract

The article deals with the theory of bureaucratic rationalization by M. Weber in author’s exposition (chapter XI of the book “Economy and Society”). The article emphasizes the basic sociological concepts of Max Weber’s theory of bureaucracy such as the characteristics of bureaucracy as a system; economic, political and social preconditions for the emergence of bureaucracy as an ideal type of organization of social administration institute; the social status of officials as the stratum in the social system and bureaucracy formation as the full subject of political struggle; the relationship of the institute of formation and bureaucracy; quantitative and qualitative expansion of the tasks that the social administration institute faces while passing from a traditional society to a modern one. The article concludes that there is no alternative to bureaucratic authority and the balance of the social structures of capitalist society depends on its continuous and proper functioning. This article defines the interrelation of Max Weber’s theory of bureaucracy with the idea of industrial society; it shows an objective conditionality of bureaucracy emergence as a form of social administration institute and social stratum in the process of evolution of Western technological civilization on the stage of modern society. The article points out social, economic, political and moral aspects of the emergence, development and achievement of the superiority of the bureaucratic system over other forms of social administration in modern society. Moreover, the paper states the strong interrelation of industrial society evolution with the expansion of the bureaucracy influence within the framework of the structural-functional approach to the study of social processes; it notes the influence of the bureaucratic system on basic social institutions; it gives a detailed characteristic of rationalization as a fundamental principle of classical scientific world, that had a decisive effect on the development of Max Weber’s theory of bureaucracy in the framework of the process of reductionism.