The Bureaucracy–Democracy Nexus: Arguments for a Realistic View
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.25159/2663-6549/16447Keywords:
government, performance, bureaucracy, public service, service deliveryAbstract
Background: Bureaucracy and democracy share a lot in common, especially in realising the goal of better living conditions for people in politically organised societies. While bureaucracy has grown in most modern organisations, civil bureaucracy has attracted enormous attention owing to the important task it is saddled with as government fashions ways of carrying out its responsibility to the people under its jurisdiction.
Aim: Within the framework of participatory theory, the article examines the interface between bureaucracy and democracy in Africa with particular reference to Nigeria. The aim was to identify the nature of the relationship that exists between bureaucracy and democracy as well as challenges that face Nigeria in its efforts at democratisation.
Method: This article adopted a qualitative approach and is descriptive in nature, with the researcher setting out to illustrate the association that exists between the dependent and independent variables. Authoritative scholarly sources were reviewed by means of a desktop study. The purpose of the desktop study was to identify relevant publications and apply them to the research question.
Results: This article argues that bureaucracy should be an instrument of democratisation in order to bring the dividends of democracy to the people at all levels of the society. This can only be achieved through the reorientation and transformation of the entire body polity rather than the self-glorification and personal aggrandisement of bureaucrats.
Conclusion: Bureaucracy and democracy have mutually reinforcing features that can be used to launch Africa in general and Nigeria in particular on the path of sustainable growth and development, as well as the provision of welfare and care for the well-being of the people.
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