The influence of prebendal and clientel gladiators in max weber’s bureaucratic theory: an analytical qualitative exploration from the lens of HRM

Long-standing, Max Weber's theory of bureaucracy has served as a normative blueprint for modern systems of administration: formal rules, strict hierarchies, recruitment due to merit, and impersonal procedures with a view to improving efficiency and predictability. In many political set-ups, however, it is the “political gladiators” highly combative, powerful politics players, using patronage, charisma, mediacy, and factional leverage that intervene in administrative domains, transforming in the process the content of human resource management (HRM). This paper is a critical consideration of the extent to which such actors shape and affect Weberian bureaucracy through the HRM prism, in the recruitment and selection, performance management, rewards system, training and development and employee voice and ethics infrastructures. Politicisation has the potential to erode meritocracy, institutional responsibilities, fairness of process and morale, although it can drive change. Finally the paper presents an integrative framework and HRM strategies to balance political responsiveness and Weberian characteristics of impartiality and competence.