Encyklopedia Administracji Publicznej MW Pivot Skin

POLITICS AND ADMINISTRATION ACCORDING TO WEBER – In Max Weber's opinion, not everything that was connected with state activity was politics. The politics is an activity, which is the subject of state activity related to the creation of new values and taking up problems which in the future may be decisive for the destiny of the nation, and it is inherent in the use of state power in the sense of using the power to accomplish previously determined tasks. Weber, aware of the axiology and goals of political activity, sought to clearly delineate its sphere of activity from the notion of administration, which is also directly related to the sphere of state power. The essence of the differences in comparison between the two spheres: 1. The task of politics is to set new goals for state activity – the goal of administration is to realize them. 2. If politics has a creative character, then administration behaves imitatively. 3. If politics works in a deeper perspective on the future vision of government objectives, administration implements current objectives, legally regulated and generally known. 4. Politics in its decisions refers to the recognized general tendencies of the formation of social life – administration operates within the limits of a specific procedural-competence scheme. 5. Politics works in a highly “individualised” way. Administration is based on “impersonality”. 6. If politics follows its own will, then administration is then the performer of the will of another. 7. Politics realizes its responsibility in extremely broad terms (before future generations, before history, conscience...). Administration is subject to specific legal-disciplinary liability as a result of the legal regulations. 8. Politics can be characterized by no clearer boundaries of action or division of competences or specialisations. Administration is based on competence, material, field or specialisation (→ Weber Max) [ J.G .Otto ].

Literature: M. Orzechowski, Polityka-władza-panowanie w teorii Maxa Webera, Warszawa 1984 ■ A. Sylwestrzak, Historia doktryn politycznych i prawnych, Warszawa 1999 ■ M. Weber, Polityka jako zawód i powołanie, Warszawa 1989.