The acquisitive model is a theoretical framework that views bureaucracies as organizations primarily focused on expanding their own power, resources, and influence within a political system. This model suggests that bureaucrats are motivated by self-interest and a desire to accumulate more authority, personnel, and funding for their agencies.
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The acquisitive model suggests that bureaucrats are primarily motivated by self-interest and a desire to expand the power and resources of their agencies, rather than a commitment to serving the public interest.
Bureaucratic autonomy is a key component of the acquisitive model, as it allows agencies to pursue their own goals with minimal external oversight or control.
Bureaucratic drift is a common phenomenon associated with the acquisitive model, as agencies gradually shift their priorities and activities away from their original mandates.
Budgetary maximization is a strategy often employed by bureaucrats operating under the acquisitive model, as they seek to secure the largest possible budget allocations to increase their agency's resources and influence.
The acquisitive model contrasts with the public interest model, which views bureaucracies as primarily concerned with serving the needs of citizens and the broader public.
Review Questions
Explain how the acquisitive model views the motivations of bureaucrats.
According to the acquisitive model, bureaucrats are primarily motivated by self-interest and a desire to expand the power, resources, and influence of their agencies, rather than a commitment to serving the public interest. The model suggests that bureaucrats are driven to accumulate more authority, personnel, and funding for their organizations, often at the expense of the original mandates and goals of the agencies they work for.
Describe the relationship between bureaucratic autonomy and the acquisitive model.
The acquisitive model is closely tied to the concept of bureaucratic autonomy, which refers to the degree to which a bureaucratic agency can make decisions and pursue its own goals independently of external political control or oversight. The acquisitive model posits that bureaucratic autonomy allows agencies to prioritize their own interests over those of the broader public, as they are able to pursue their own agendas with minimal interference from elected officials or other external stakeholders.
Analyze how the acquisitive model explains the phenomenon of bureaucratic drift.
The acquisitive model provides a theoretical framework for understanding the tendency of bureaucratic agencies to gradually shift their priorities and activities away from their original mandates and toward the interests of the bureaucrats themselves. This process, known as bureaucratic drift, is a key feature of the acquisitive model, which suggests that bureaucrats are motivated to expand the scope and influence of their agencies, even if this means moving away from the original purpose for which the agency was established. The acquisitive model thus offers insights into the self-serving behavior of bureaucrats and the ways in which this can undermine the effective and efficient functioning of government.
Related terms
Bureaucratic Autonomy: The degree to which a bureaucratic agency can make decisions and pursue its own goals independently of external political control or oversight.
Bureaucratic Drift: The tendency of bureaucratic agencies to gradually shift their priorities and activities away from their original mandates and toward the interests of the bureaucrats themselves.
Budgetary Maximization: The bureaucratic tendency to seek the largest possible budget allocation, often irrespective of actual programmatic needs, in order to increase the agency's resources and influence.