In defense of the deep state
By: Fukuyama, Francis
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Material type: 
BookPublisher: Asia Pacific Journal of Public Administration Description: 46(1), Mar, 2024: p.1-12.Subject(s): Deep State, US Bureaucracy, Administrative Transparency, Government Delegation, Bureaucratic Agents, Democratic Control, Bureaucratic Overreach, Agency Power Checks, Political Constraints, Government Efficiency, Public Administration, Policy Implementation, Governance Structure, Political Influence, Regulatory Framework, Institutional Autonomy, Executive Authority, Public Sector Management, Political Patronage System, Constitutional Oversight
In:
Asia Pacific Journal of Public AdministrationSummary: The term “deep state” originally referred to the hidden security bureaucracies in countries like Turkey and Egypt with sinister overtones. The term has been applied by American conservatives to the existing permanent US bureaucracy, which they argue is exerting tyrannical control over citizens and needs to be destroyed root and branch. The fact is that the US administrative state is highly transparent and plays a critical role in delivering services and outcomes that citizens demand. Modern government cannot function without a high degree of delegation to bureaucratic agents; as such the US “deep state” needs to be defended and not vilified. There are several critical mechanisms for democratic principals to exert control over bureaucratic agents. While there are instances of bureaucratic over-reach, the US system provides a number of checks on agency power that are under-utilised. A separate problem lies in under-delegation, where political principals write detailed rules constraining bureaucratic autonomy in ways that hinder effective and timely government action. Future efforts by conservatives to undermine the “deep state” will result in grave weakening of American government and return the country to the 19th century patronage system.- Reproduced
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/23276665.2023.2249142
| Item type | Current location | Call number | Vol info | Status | Date due | Barcode |
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Articles
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Indian Institute of Public Administration | 46(1), Mar, 2024: p.1-12 | Available | AR132100 |
The term “deep state” originally referred to the hidden security bureaucracies in countries like Turkey and Egypt with sinister overtones. The term has been applied by American conservatives to the existing permanent US bureaucracy, which they argue is exerting tyrannical control over citizens and needs to be destroyed root and branch. The fact is that the US administrative state is highly transparent and plays a critical role in delivering services and outcomes that citizens demand. Modern government cannot function without a high degree of delegation to bureaucratic agents; as such the US “deep state” needs to be defended and not vilified. There are several critical mechanisms for democratic principals to exert control over bureaucratic agents. While there are instances of bureaucratic over-reach, the US system provides a number of checks on agency power that are under-utilised. A separate problem lies in under-delegation, where political principals write detailed rules constraining bureaucratic autonomy in ways that hinder effective and timely government action. Future efforts by conservatives to undermine the “deep state” will result in grave weakening of American government and return the country to the 19th century patronage system.- Reproduced
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/23276665.2023.2249142
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