Bureaucracy - Friends of the Earth (Canberra)

Authors

Ray Kent
Brian Martin, University of WollongongFollow
Val Plumwood
Ann Thomson
Rosemary Walters
Ian Watson

RIS ID

74675

Publication Details

Kent, R., Martin, B., Plumwood, V., Thomson, A., Walters, R. and Watson, I. (1985). 'Bureaucracy - Friends of the Earth (Canberra)', 1984 and Social Control: Papers from the 1984 and Social Control Conference (pp. 25-33). Sydney: 1984 Conference Committee.

Link to publisher version (URL)

Social Control Conference

Abstract

Bureaucracy is an important modern phenomenon. Until a few hundred years ago, bureaucracies were found in only a few special parts of society. Now they are widespread, and continue to penetrate more and more aspects of life. Bureaucracy is a way of organising the work and interactions of a large number of people by the use of hierarchy, a high division of labour and a system of rules and standard operating procedures. Bureaucracy is the organising principle of most government departments, corporations, armies, political parties, communist regimes, trade unions and professional bodies .