Keeping bureaucracy under political control.

Abstract

The article ''Keeping bureaucracy under political control'' by M. Azizur Rahman examines the critical balance between bureaucratic autonomy and political oversight in governance systems, analyzing how excessive political interference can undermine administrative efficiency while insufficient control may lead to bureaucratic overreach. It discusses historical and contemporary cases where bureaucratic institutions either became tools of political agendas or resisted democratic accountability, focusing on South Asian contexts. The piece highlights structural reforms—such as merit-based recruitment, fixed tenures for civil servants, and transparent performance metrics—that can maintain bureaucratic competence without compromising political direction. It also critiques patronage systems that erode institutional integrity, citing examples from developing democracies where politicized bureaucracies exacerbated corruption and service delivery failures. The conclusion emphasizes the need for legal-institutional frameworks that delineate clear boundaries between policy-making (political domain) and implementation (bureaucratic domain) to ensure effective governance.