4 The Technocratic Regime: Technocracy, Bureaucracy and Democracy
-
Anders Esmark
Abstract
Technocracy is discussed as a distinct type of regime and form of statecraft. The chapter clears up the considerable confusion surrounding the relationship between technocracy, bureaucracy and democracy, which provides the foundation for the empirical analysis of the anti-bureaucratic and pro-democratic nature of contemporary technocracy. The relationship of technocracy to political ideology is discussed, leading to the suggestion that technocracy consistently pursues a position ‘beyond ideology’ while also remaining fully capable of working in lockstep with socialism, liberalism and anything in between. Finally, the chapter moves from the regime level and provides an overall model of the constitutive and intersecting policy paradigms of the New Technocracy: connective governance, risk management and performance management.
Abstract
Technocracy is discussed as a distinct type of regime and form of statecraft. The chapter clears up the considerable confusion surrounding the relationship between technocracy, bureaucracy and democracy, which provides the foundation for the empirical analysis of the anti-bureaucratic and pro-democratic nature of contemporary technocracy. The relationship of technocracy to political ideology is discussed, leading to the suggestion that technocracy consistently pursues a position ‘beyond ideology’ while also remaining fully capable of working in lockstep with socialism, liberalism and anything in between. Finally, the chapter moves from the regime level and provides an overall model of the constitutive and intersecting policy paradigms of the New Technocracy: connective governance, risk management and performance management.
Chapters in this book
- Front Matter i
- Contents iii
- List of Figures iv
- Rediscovering Technocracy 1
- Technocratic Revolutions: From Industrial to Post-industrial Technocracy 19
- Who Are the Technocrats? From the Technostructure to Technocratic Government 53
- The Technocratic Regime: Technocracy, Bureaucracy and Democracy 79
- Technocratic Organization: The Power of Networks 111
- Technocratic Regulation: Coping With Risk and Uncertainty 141
- Technocratic Calculation: Economy, Evidence and Experiments 173
- New Populism vs New Technocracy 203
- Reining Technocracy Back In? 227
- Conclusion: Technocracy at the End of the World 251
- References 259
- Index 287
Chapters in this book
- Front Matter i
- Contents iii
- List of Figures iv
- Rediscovering Technocracy 1
- Technocratic Revolutions: From Industrial to Post-industrial Technocracy 19
- Who Are the Technocrats? From the Technostructure to Technocratic Government 53
- The Technocratic Regime: Technocracy, Bureaucracy and Democracy 79
- Technocratic Organization: The Power of Networks 111
- Technocratic Regulation: Coping With Risk and Uncertainty 141
- Technocratic Calculation: Economy, Evidence and Experiments 173
- New Populism vs New Technocracy 203
- Reining Technocracy Back In? 227
- Conclusion: Technocracy at the End of the World 251
- References 259
- Index 287
