Abstract

OSZLAK, Oscar. Burocracia estatal: política y políticas públicas. Postdata [online]. 2006, n.11, pp.11-56. ISSN 1851-9601.

This article addresses the following question: is it possible and advisable to analyze the involvement of public bureaucracies in politics and in the implementation of policies through a systematic analysis of variables related to the power and productivity of public organizations? To this end, it examines the historical background of bureaucracy and its role in the process of social construction. This analysis reveals the manner whereby bureaucracies arise and develop, as well as how they define their agenda, policies, and assign resources. On this basis, a conceptual model is developed that explains the bureaucratic dynamic in regards to both the bureaucracy's interaction with its clients and the political regime (here power is the central variable) as well as aspects inherent in its internal functioning (here themes related to technology and culture acquire greater relevance). Finally, to explain why bureaucracies behave as they do, we point to the need to analyze the formulation and implementation of policies in light of the complex intra- and extra-bureaucratic dynamic whose understanding does not always inform government decision-making processes

Keywords : Bureaucracy; Public policies; Political regime; Productivity; Power.

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