Effective bureaucracy

FOR building a modern state effective public administration is considered as the key. State building needs decisions of ruling authorities to be readily translated into effective policies and programs. Sustained progress based on the full utilisation of modern science and technology needs effective administrative capacity. In Bangladesh, whose aim is to achieve the goal of providing substantial benefit for the common people, a level of administrative capacity must be attained. Thus, establishing an effective bureaucracy is essential for attaining the goal of Digital Bangladesh.
Effective bureaucracy is wise and sound personnel development. Personnel administration is an extremely difficult art. The calibre of any organisation is primarily determined by the quality and character of the people within it. It needs blending of universal principles and indigenous culture considerations to build an effective public administration.
The goal of administrative development is primarily to provide citizens with services. Often, little attention is paid to developing extractive capabilities, particularly with respect to taxing, either with rural peasantry or wealthy associates of the ruling classes. This phenomenon is clearly evident in Bangladesh. In the western world development of bureaucratic structures was intimately linked with the problems of finance and taxation. Governments were able to justify increases in their capacity to extract resources on the ground of compelling demands of war and military threat to their societies.
Most of the developing countries have experienced colonialism. The emphasis of European colonial rule was on establishing extractive capabilities, furthering law and order, and presenting an impersonal concern for administration of justice. In many non-colonial developing countries the problem is in establishing a strong administrative service to give the state a firmer and more stable form.
Confusion over administrative norms in many developing countries, including Bangladesh, has led to a debate over the extent to which the classic model of bureaucracy (as described by Max Weber) is relevant for guiding administrative development in the developing countries. Some hold that there is a need for raising the level of administrative professionalism.
Some others consider Weber's model, as an abstraction, which has never been and never should be realised by any effective bureaucracy. Thus, efforts to persuade civil services of the developing countries to adhere to Weberian standards is only likely to produce greater bureaucratic inefficiency and inertia.
The conspicuousness of colonial bureaucracies and significant social and cultural status of the members of civil services, it is argued, has created an unhealthy imbalance in institutional development. This has resulted in premature growth of political agencies. Others argue that political rulers of developing countries are adequately in command of political power.
The problem is that too many bureaucracies of developing countries lack power and hence do not have capabilities needed to further economic and social development. Their conclusion is that unless bureaucracies are greatly improved there cannot be effective programs for progress. The goal of improving administrative performance should, therefore, be more responsive to society's needs.
The central dilemma between the imperatives of power and authority and the requirements for mobilising available knowledge and skills lies at the heart of the process of administrative development. In thinking about almost all specific problems of administrative development it is considered helpful to ask what the implications of power are, for knowledge and for interrelationship between the two.
Most administrative experts recommend maximising use of knowledge rather than building power and authority. Insensitivity to the importance of the power issue ignores the goals of the country and emphasis on professional competence. Prescriptions should, therefore, be based on greater empirical knowledge than we possess. Thus, more knowledge about actual practices of personnel administration is necessary.
Establishing good governance in Bangladesh is a commitment of the government. For good governance and advancing development the country needs an effective bureaucracy built on knowledge, skill, power and authority. Thus, starting administrative reform brooks no further delay.

A.B.M.S.Zahur is a former Joint Secretary.