Emotional bureaucrats: The paradox of Weberian bureaucracy and emotions in the Indian Railways

Abstract

State officials in Weber’s rational-bureaucratic ideal type execute the business of the state rationally and dispassionately. Yet, in practice, the professional lives of bureaucrats are often deeply imbued with emotions. Drawing on fieldwork conducted over 2 years in India, this article examines the relationship between emotions and organizational structure in the Indian Railways, one of the world’s largest state bureaucracies. From fear and helplessness to jealousy and pride, I argue that the varied and powerful emotional experiences of Indian Railway officers stem partly from structural factors within the bureaucracy itself, particularly its organizational structure. Feelings of powerless and a sense that ‘bureaucrats are beggars’ can be traced to the fragmented organizational structure of the Indian Railways, which sharply constrains the authority of individual officers. A pervasive ‘fear of being questioned’ is fueled by the frequent ‘weaponization’ of anti-corruption tools and intricate rules to carry out personal vendettas. Ultimately, this article shows how efforts to produce a more Weberian, rationally organized bureaucracy can end up generating the very emotions they aim to limit.