A Delegation Perspective on Comitology

Abstract

‘Precision, speed, unambiguity, knowledge of the files, continuity, discretion, unity, strict subordination, reduction of friction and of material and personal costs.’ This is what Max Weber (1970, p. 214) saw, about 100 years ago, as the advantages of political delegation of powers to the bureaucracy. Delegation would increase the capacity of the government immensely. ‘The bureaucracy compares with other organizations exactly as does the machine with the non-mechanical modes of production’ (ibid., p. 214). However, while praising the technical potential of delegation of powers to the bureaucracy Weber was also deeply worried about the political influence of the bureaucracy. ‘The power position of a fully developed bureaucracy is always overtowering. The “political master” finds himself in the position of the dilettante who stands opposite the “expert”’ (ibid., p. 232).