The ambiguity of ideology and administrative reform
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"The central question of this study is whether social and administrative reform has an essentially different character in developing as compared to developed nations. For example, if reform, in developing countries is primarily ideological rather than incremental, the significance for a theory of reform can be very substantial. What is suited to the bureaucracy of a developed country may be very unsuitable to a developing nation. Attention in particular, will be focused on the relationship between ideology and reform. The discussion is centered around the following major questions, with primary reference to India--a developing country, using Britain and the United States--developed countries, for contrasting perspectives: 1. Whether social and administrative reform has essentially a different character in a developing country, as compared to a developed one? (Is incrementalism suited to a developed country, equally suitable to a developing country? Or, is a developing country properly advised to stress ideology, as the basis of reform? Perhaps there is a third alternative, an intermediate position between pure incrementalism and pure ideology--a position which can be correlated with the transitional nature of a. developing system.) 2. Does ideology, understood as a belief system that is to be actualised, as opposed to mere speculation, provide a useful 2 guide and support for administrative reform? 3. What are the preconditions for successful incrementalism, and what are the causes for dysfunctional incrementalism? 4. Can we relate functional and dysfunctional aspects of incrementalism and ideology to a principle of balance and linkage between ideology and social, political and bureaucratic functions and structures? In case one of the elements becomes substantially stronger than the others, what will be the consequences? In attempting to answer these questions, the author hopes to shed light on the relationship between bureaucrats and politicians in a developing country, especially in regard to the process of social and administrative reforms."--Introduction.
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