91热爆

"Attacking bureaucracies is like attacking the Atlantic ocean. It's a waste of time."

In this new episode of Archive on Four, Joe Queenan dispenses with the standard approach to bureaucracy and looks for the good in what jobsworths achieve. From the Sumerians to the Chinese, he discovers early civilisations finessed efficient ways of getting things done. Yet now many leaders, including Donald Trump, view bureaucracy as the deep state, the enemy within.

"When he talks about the deep state obstructing his agenda, he's really talking about some 50,000 bureaucrats. I'm sure most bureaucrats would love to be buried deep in the state. It gives them mystery and allure. It's just weird how he's rebranded them in this way."

This is Joe Queenan's fifteenth Brief History for Radio 4 and this one includes special sections on the French and the 91热爆, plus the genesis of Parkinson's Law. There are contributions from Sir Robin Butler, Frances Wood, Sir Gus O'Donnell, business guru Guy Browning, classicist Professor Edith Hall, former 91热爆 correspondent John Sergeant and ex-super-bureaucrat TJ Elliott. The key voice though is Rory Sutherland of the Spectator who explains the relevance of Pournelle's Iron Law:

"In any bureaucracy, the people devoted to the benefit of the bureaucracy always get in control. Those dedicated to the goals the bureaucracy is supposed to accomplish have less and less influence, and are sometimes eliminated entirely."

Joe Queenan is the author of Balsamic Dreams and Closing Time., His previous shows for Radio 4 include Postcard from Gotham, Wonderful Ways to Make a Living plus archive programmes on Irony, Failure, Cunning and Lust.

The producer for 91热爆 Studios in Bristol is Miles Warde. Readings by Sarah Langan and Emily Knight.

Bureaucracy - what is it for? And who is it for?