MARX'S ALIENATION AND WEBER'S BUREACRACY

Marx's Alienation and Weber's Bureaucracy

Marx's Alienation and Bureaucracy of Weber

Introduction

Weber's interest in the nature of power and authority, and widespread concern with modern trends of rationalization led him to deal with the operation of modern large-scale enterprises in the political, administrative and economic. Coordination of the actual activities, she argued, is the hallmark of the modern era. Bureaucracies are organized according to rational principles.

Discussion

Only through this organizational device has large-scale planning for both the modern state and modern economy, if possible. Only through it could mobilize the heads of state and centralized political power resources, which in feudal times, for example, had dispersed in various centers. Only with your help could be mobilized financial resources, which were set aside in pre-modern times. Bureaucratic organization is the privileged instrument of Weber that has shaped modern politics, modern economics, and modern technology. Types of bureaucratic organization is technically superior to all other forms of administration, as well as machine production is superior to traditional methods.

However, Weber also noted the dysfunctions of bureaucracy. Its main advantage, the calculability of results, it also makes it difficult to handle and even stifling in the treatment of individual cases. Rationalization and bureaucratic systems of both modern law have become incapable of dealing with individual particularities, the earlier types of justice is well suited. The modern judge, said Weber in writing in the legal systems of continental Europe, is a vending machine in which letters are inserted along with the fee and then vomit the statement along with code derived from mechanical reasons.

Weber argued that the bureaucratization of the modern world has led to depersonalization.

Imagine the consequences of global streamlining bureaucracy and already today we see approaching. Already today . . . in all economic enterprises implementing modern lines, rational calculation is manifested at every stage. Therefore, the performance of each individual worker is mathematically measured, each man becomes a small part in the machine and, aware of this, their only concern is whether it can become a larger piece. It is clear now is proceeding to an evolution which resembles [the ancient kingdom of Egypt] in every detail, except that it is based on other grounds, in perfect technology, more rational, and therefore more mechanized foundations. The problem that afflicts us now: how cans this trend may change - because that's impossible, but, what will come of it?

Weber views on rationalization and bureaucratization of the world are inescapable obvious similarities to Marx's notion of alienation. Both men agree that modern methods of organization have greatly increased the effectiveness and efficiency of production and organization and have allowed an unprecedented mastery of man over the natural world. They also agree that the new world of streamlined efficiency has become a monster that threatens to dehumanize its creators. But Weber did not agree with Marx when he sees alienation as only a transitional stage on the path toward true liberation of man. Weber does not believe in the future the leap from the realm ...