Bureaugraphies. Administration After the Age of Bureaucracy

The present research project is concerned with the current "post-bureaucratic" governance. In this context, we examine the German-speaking administrations in the FRG, Switzerland, and Austria. Our investigation begins with Max Weber`s renowned characterization of bureaucracies as rational decision-making entities whose rationality is mediated through files and is imbued with state authority. In particular, during the 20th century, such "bureaucratic" state administrations have been the subject of significant criticism, which has led to the implementation of numerous reforms under the banner of "debureaucratization," "streamlining," and increased "efficiency." It is assumed that these reforms have only partially resulted in a reduction of long-standing circumstantial procedures within authorities. In essence, our thesis posits that formerly official communication procedures have been disseminated beyond state organizations, namely in the social and private spheres. In light of the aforementioned context, we define "bureaugraphies" as writing practices that adhere to the procedures and techniques of authentic "bureaucratic" work, yet are no longer constrained by and invested in the authority of state institutions. The proliferation of these "bureaugraphies" (which provide the foundation for "digital citizens` offices" as well as "social media") has precipitated an unparalleled degree of micromanagement and control over social and private domains. To describe this development, the project proceeds in three steps: Firstly, it addresses the various discourses that critique the bureaucratic apparatus as a procedure and institution. (Such discourses may be observed in administrative agencies, political and public discussions, and literary writing). Secondly, the project is concerned with the implementation of administrative reforms, which encompass a range of approaches, from those aligned with the principles of classical scientific management to more recent neoliberal initiatives that involve the outsourcing of public service duties. Finally, the project considers the role of writing and communication procedures, particularly those forms of record-keeping that are specifically "bureaucratic," and how they have been transformed technically. Our work employs a multidisciplinary approach, integrating systematic, historical, and comparative perspectives with theoretical frameworks drawn from organizational sociology and literary, cultural, and media studies. Overall, the project seeks to elucidate a paradox: the reduction of "bureaucratic" routines and the simultaneous proliferation of "bureaugraphic" proceedings at the political, technical, aesthetic, and everyday levels. In addition to four postdoctoral researchers and one doctoral student, the team comprises an organizational sociologist, a media scientist, and two literary scholars. It is supported by renowned scholars of bureaucracy, as well as experts in contemporary administrative practice.