Max Weber's pre-World War I analysis of bureaucracy reveals his belief in the efficiency of the Prussian General Staff, contrasting it with Germany's other institutions, which he viewed as hindered by self-interest. He criticized the Civil Service, industry, and army for their inability to achieve excellence. After his death, his wife Marianne published a model that omitted Weber's favorable views on military bureaucracy, highlighting a significant shift in the portrayal of his ideas.
A Critique of World Bank Promises to End Global Poverty
The book critiques the World Bank's approach to poverty alleviation, highlighting the failure of economic growth strategies promised by Robert McNamara. Instead of reducing poverty, child poverty and homelessness have surged. Glynn Cochrane, an anthropologist and former World Bank Advisor, advocates for a shift from distant management to personal engagement with the impoverished. He emphasizes that helpers equipped with local and cultural knowledge, along with insights from anthropological fieldwork, are essential for effective poverty alleviation.