Mark Seemann • 4/20/2026

In defence of bureaucracy

This article by Mark Seemann defends bureaucracy as a necessary institution for predictability, meritocracy, and fairness, despite its unpopularity. It traces bureaucracy's origins from ancient empires to modern rules-based orders, arguing it reduces arbitrariness and promotes justice. The author compares bureaucracy to taxation, suggesting an optimal balance exists between zero and total bureaucracy, and that this balance may shift with external circumstances. While not a technical IT piece, it relates to software engineering concepts like bus factor and organizational process.

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