COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND THE MYSTERIES OF POLITICS

• NCJ Number: 15466
• Author(s): V OSTROM
• Date Published: 1974
• Length: 8 pages
• Corporate Author: Indiana University
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

CONSIDERS THAT THE OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE IN BOTH SMALL AND LARGE COMMUNITIES OF INTEREST IS ESSENTIAL FOR BALANCED INDIVIDUAL AND COMMUNAL DEVELOPMENT.

Abstract

THIS PAPER ARGUES FOR A BALANCE OF LARGE HIERARCHICAL BUREAUCRACIES TO PERFORM SERVICES FOR PUBLIC LIFE THAT REQUIRE SUCH CENTRALIZED, COMPREHENSIVE AUTHORITY AND RELATIVELY SMALL SELF-CONTAINED SYSTEMS TO PERFORM PUBLIC SERVICES SUITABLE TO THEIR SIZE AND STRUCTURE. THE AUTHOR WARNS AGAINST THE TENDENCY OF LARGE BUREAUCRACIES TO SUPPLANT AND UNDERMINE THE TASKS AND AUTONOMY OF SMALLER POLITICAL SYSTEMS THAT COULD FUNCTION MORE EFFECTIVELY IN CERTAIN MATTERS. THIS BALANCE OF LARGE AND SMALL POLITICAL SYSTEMS IS CONSIDERED AN ESSENTIAL INGREDIENT FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF A DEMOCRATIC SOCIETY.