The genesis of modern bureaucracy

This dissertation examines the historical development and sociological foundations of modern bureaucracy within the framework of Max Weber's theory of bureaucracy. It argues that bureaucracy is not merely an administrative structure but rather the fundamental mechanism that establishes and sustains the legitimate authority of the modern state. Within this context, Weber's concepts of "ideal type", "domination", and "legitimacy" are used to demonstrate how different types of authority builds different bureaucratic structures. The first chapter outlines Weber's life, intellectual development, and sociological methodology. It then explores the impact of charismatic, traditional, and rational-legal types of authority on bureaucratic structures. In this context, historical comparisons are made using the examples of the bureaucracies of Ancient Egypt, China, and the Church. The second chapter analyzes the historical origins of modern bureaucracy by examining the Italian city-states, the French absolute monarchy, post-revolutionary France, and Prussia. A four-point checklist is developed for this analysis: the development of a monetary economy, the expansion of administrative tasks (emergence of the civil servant), technical superiority, and the principle of written documentation. These elements are used to evaluate the historical examples. The study argues that bureaucratic organization developed concurrently with capitalism and became an integral part of the modernization process. The central claim of the dissertation is that modern bureaucracy was institutionalized as the administrative apparatus of rational-legal authority, particularly in the case of Prussia. Based on the findings, the birthplace of modern bureaucracy is identified as the German territories under the rule of the Kingdom of Prussia, with the most suitable birth date being the enactment of the General Code in 1794. In conclusion, supported by Weberian sociology, this study demonstrates that modern bureaucracy is not only a form of organization but also a fundamental instrument of governance that carries legal legitimacy.