The Case Against Bureaucratic Discretion
This book explores contemporary and historical examples of bureaucratic discretion to describe a continuum of resistance to authoritative directives by hierarchical superiors. Resistance ranges from blind obedience or complete nonresistance to street-leve
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The Case Against Bureaucratic Discretion
Steven G. Koven
The Case Against Bureaucratic Discretion
Steven G. Koven University of Louisville Louisville, KY, USA
ISBN 978-3-030-05778-7 ISBN 978-3-030-05779-4 (eBook) https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-05779-4 Library of Congress Control Number: 2018965746 © The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s) 2019 This work is subject to copyright. All rights are solely and exclusively licensed by the Publisher, whether the whole or part of the material is concerned, specifically the rights of translation, reprinting, reuse of illustrations, recitation, broadcasting, reproduction on microfilms or in any other physical way, and transmission or information storage and retrieval, electronic adaptation, computer software, or by similar or dissimilar methodology now known or hereafter developed. The use of general descriptive names, registered names, trademarks, service marks, etc. in this publication does not imply, even in the absence of a specific statement, that such names are exempt from the relevant protective laws and regulations and therefore free for general use. The publisher, the authors, and the editors are safe to assume that the advice and information in this book are believed to be true and accurate at the date of publication. Neither the publisher nor the authors or the editors give a warranty, express or implied, with respect to the material contained herein or for any errors or omissions that may have been made. The publisher remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations. This Palgrave Macmillan imprint is published by the registered company Springer Nature Switzerland AG The registered company address is: Gewerbestrasse 11, 6330 Cham, Switzerland
Preface
This book is partially alarmist and partially hopeful. The alarmist element arises out of concern that government bureaucracies are becoming forces in their own right rather than neutral tools of democratically elected officials. In recent years, questionable behavior of agents of the state (bureaucrats) has focused attention on government abuse. Deaths at the hands of local police, Central Intelligence Agency prisoner interrogations (Abu Ghraib), and Federal Bureau of Investigation interjection into politics (Clinton and Trump inquiries) are just a few examples that raise questions about whether the so-called neutral bureaucracy is operating as intended. This relates to the ancient question of “who will guard the guards.” For democracies to function as planned, it is necessary for elected representatives to be able to control the actions of career bureaucrats. This question of democratic accountability should be of interest to students of public administrators, political theory, and political science as well as a public concerned about government infringement on personal liberty. The obvious fear of “runaway” bureaucracy is that government organizations will use their claims of expertise, access to inside information, and the need for secre
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