Weber and Kafka: The rational and the enigmatic bureaucracy

Publikation: Bidrag til tidsskrift › Tidsskriftartikel › Forskning › fagfællebedømt

Standard

Weber and Kafka: The rational and the enigmatic bureaucracy. / Beck Jørgensen, Torben.

I: Public Administration, Bind 90, Nr. 1, 2012, s. 194–210.

Publikation: Bidrag til tidsskrift › Tidsskriftartikel › Forskning › fagfællebedømt

Harvard

Beck Jørgensen, T 2012, 'Weber and Kafka: The rational and the enigmatic bureaucracy', Public Administration, bind 90, nr. 1, s. 194–210. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-9299.2011.01957.x

APA

Beck Jørgensen, T. (2012). Weber and Kafka: The rational and the enigmatic bureaucracy. Public Administration, 90(1), 194–210. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-9299.2011.01957.x

Vancouver

Beck Jørgensen T. Weber and Kafka: The rational and the enigmatic bureaucracy. Public Administration. 2012;90(1):194–210. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-9299.2011.01957.x

Author

Beck Jørgensen, Torben. / Weber and Kafka: The rational and the enigmatic bureaucracy. I: Public Administration. 2012 ; Bind 90, Nr. 1. s. 194–210.

Bibtex

@article{a277c5e0ecad11dfb6d2000ea68e967b,
title = "Weber and Kafka: The rational and the enigmatic bureaucracy",
abstract = "Max Weber{\textquoteright}s and Franz Kafka{\textquoteright}s respective understandings of bureaucracy are as different as night and day. Yet, Kafka{\textquoteright}s novel The Castle is best read with Max Weber at hand. In fact, Kafka relates systematically to all the dimensions in Weber{\textquoteright}s ideal type of bureaucracy and give us a much-contemplated parody, almost a counter-punctual ideal type, based on four key observations: bureaucratic excesses unfold in time and space; a {\textquoteleft}no error{\textquoteright} ideology generates inescapable dilemmas; inscrutability is a life condition in bureaucracy; civil servants end up walking on the spot, just like the figures in Escher{\textquoteright}s painting: Ascending and Descending. Nevertheless, Weber and Kafka can both be right. While Kafka looks at the bureaucratic phenomenon through persons who are marginalized, Weber{\textquoteright}s perspective is historic-comparative and top-down. Are the observations of the one more correct than the other? The question is meaningless. As two opposite poles, Weber and Kafka {\textquoteleft}magnetize{\textquoteright} each other.",
author = "{Beck J{\o}rgensen}, Torben",
year = "2012",
doi = "10.1111/j.1467-9299.2011.01957.x",
language = "English",
volume = "90",
pages = "194–210",
journal = "Public Administration",
issn = "0033-3298",
publisher = "Wiley-Blackwell",
number = "1",

}

RIS

TY - JOUR

T1 - Weber and Kafka: The rational and the enigmatic bureaucracy

AU - Beck Jørgensen, Torben

PY - 2012

Y1 - 2012

N2 - Max Weber’s and Franz Kafka’s respective understandings of bureaucracy are as different as night and day. Yet, Kafka’s novel The Castle is best read with Max Weber at hand. In fact, Kafka relates systematically to all the dimensions in Weber’s ideal type of bureaucracy and give us a much-contemplated parody, almost a counter-punctual ideal type, based on four key observations: bureaucratic excesses unfold in time and space; a ‘no error’ ideology generates inescapable dilemmas; inscrutability is a life condition in bureaucracy; civil servants end up walking on the spot, just like the figures in Escher’s painting: Ascending and Descending. Nevertheless, Weber and Kafka can both be right. While Kafka looks at the bureaucratic phenomenon through persons who are marginalized, Weber’s perspective is historic-comparative and top-down. Are the observations of the one more correct than the other? The question is meaningless. As two opposite poles, Weber and Kafka ‘magnetize’ each other.

AB - Max Weber’s and Franz Kafka’s respective understandings of bureaucracy are as different as night and day. Yet, Kafka’s novel The Castle is best read with Max Weber at hand. In fact, Kafka relates systematically to all the dimensions in Weber’s ideal type of bureaucracy and give us a much-contemplated parody, almost a counter-punctual ideal type, based on four key observations: bureaucratic excesses unfold in time and space; a ‘no error’ ideology generates inescapable dilemmas; inscrutability is a life condition in bureaucracy; civil servants end up walking on the spot, just like the figures in Escher’s painting: Ascending and Descending. Nevertheless, Weber and Kafka can both be right. While Kafka looks at the bureaucratic phenomenon through persons who are marginalized, Weber’s perspective is historic-comparative and top-down. Are the observations of the one more correct than the other? The question is meaningless. As two opposite poles, Weber and Kafka ‘magnetize’ each other.

U2 - 10.1111/j.1467-9299.2011.01957.x

DO - 10.1111/j.1467-9299.2011.01957.x

M3 - Journal article

VL - 90

SP - 194

EP - 210

JO - Public Administration

JF - Public Administration

SN - 0033-3298

IS - 1

ER -

ID: 23064159