Rome and Byzantium: An Administrative Overview

Abstract

An unintended consequence of the abrupt collapse of the USSR was to revive the rift between Rome and Byzantium whose origins are traceable to doctrinal disputes within the Christian Church culminating in the Schism of 1054. The legacy of the mistrust that this divorce engendered accounts for stereotypes which still exists today. None of these pre-conceptions has proved more time-resistant than the perceived dichotomy between divergent patterns of governance in Rome and Constantinopole. Thus, "Roman" as a predicate for administration conveys the image of rigor, integrity, and effectiveness while "Byzantium," by contrast, is often used a s synonym for bureaucratic muddling and obscurantism. Of course, nothing could be further from the truth. The study of the two systems reveals, quite on the contrary, a remarkable affinity and continuity born of a common past and a shared administrative culture. Although differences exist, they may be explained in terms of changing circumstances, environmental challenges or pressures as well as varying degrees of centralization of power. The implications of all these are self-evident for modern governance and public administration.