Differentiating Between Democratic Attitude and Bureaucratic Attitude of Public Servants

Public servants play a very important role in the running of a country. They are the people who work in government offices, deliver public services, implement policies, and act as a link between the government and the people. The way public servants behave with citizens, the decisions they take, and the attitudes they adopt have a great impact on democracy, governance, and people’s everyday lives. Two major types of attitudes are often seen among public servants: the democratic attitude and the bureaucratic attitude. These two are very different ways of thinking and working. Understanding the difference between them is necessary to know how public service can either help or harm democracy.

1. Meaning of Democratic Attitude

A democratic attitude means an attitude that is based on the principles of democracy. Democracy is a system where the power belongs to the people, and the government exists to serve the people. In this system, public servants must respect values like equality, liberty, justice, fairness, participation, and accountability.

When a public servant has a democratic attitude, he or she believes that citizens are not just “subjects” but partners in governance. Their role is not only to follow orders from above but also to understand the needs of the people and to serve them in a fair and respectful manner.

Features of Democratic Attitude

1.Respect for citizens – Citizens are treated with dignity and not as inferior.

2.Transparency – Decisions are open and clear, not secretive.

3.Participation – Public servants encourage people to take part in decision-making.

4.Responsibility – They feel answerable to the people for their actions.

5.Fairness – Everyone is treated equally, without bias or discrimination.

6.Empathy – Understanding people’s needs, problems, and feelings.

7.Service-oriented – Focus on helping and solving problems rather than just following rigid rules.

2. Meaning of Bureaucratic Attitude

A bureaucratic attitude comes from the traditional style of administration, where strict rules, hierarchy, and authority are more important than people’s needs. Bureaucracy is necessary for order and discipline, but when it becomes rigid, it can harm democracy.

When a public servant has a bureaucratic attitude, he or she sees citizens more as subjects who must obey rules rather than as partners in governance. The main focus is on following orders, sticking to procedures, and maintaining control rather than serving people.

Features of Bureaucratic Attitude

1.Rule-bound behavior – Following rules and procedures even when they cause hardship to people.

2.Hierarchy-focused – Giving more importance to superiors than to citizens.

3.Impersonal attitude – Lack of human touch; citizens are seen as files or numbers.

4.Rigid mindset – Unwillingness to adapt or innovate.

5.Power-oriented – Using position and authority rather than persuasion or cooperation.

6.Secrecy – Decisions are often hidden from the public.

7.Delay and red-tapism – Work gets delayed because of unnecessary procedures.

3. Key Differences Between Democratic and Bureaucratic Attitude

Point of Difference	Democratic Attitude	Bureaucratic Attitude
View of Citizens	Citizens are partners in governance.	Citizens are subjects who must follow rules.
Decision-making	Participatory, open, and consultative.	Closed, top-down, and rule-bound.
Focus	Service, fairness, and accountability.	Authority, order, and control.
Treatment of People	With respect, dignity, and empathy.	As files, cases, or numbers.
Flexibility	Flexible and adaptable to people’s needs.	Rigid and resistant to change.
Accountability	Answerable to citizens and the democratic system.	More accountable to superiors than to citizens.
Outcome	Builds trust, strengthens democracy, improves service.	Creates distance, dissatisfaction, and mistrust.

4. Examples

• A public servant with a democratic attitude will listen to a poor farmer’s complaint with patience, try to solve the problem quickly, and ensure that the farmer feels respected.
• A public servant with a bureaucratic attitude may ask the farmer to go from one office to another, demand unnecessary documents, and delay the solution just because “rules” say so.

5. Importance of Democratic Attitude in Public Service

1.Strengthens democracy – Citizens feel included in governance.

2.Builds trust – People develop faith in government institutions.

3.Improves efficiency – When public servants work with empathy, solutions come faster.

4.Encourages participation – Citizens become active in decision-making.

5.Reduces corruption – Transparency and accountability reduce misuse of power.

6. Problems Caused by Bureaucratic Attitude

1.Alienation of citizens – People feel disconnected from government.

2.Delay in services – Red-tapism wastes time and resources.

3.Corruption – Rigid procedures give opportunities for bribery.

4.Inequality – Favoritism and misuse of power can harm the poor.

5.Weakens democracy – People lose faith in government institutions.

7. Balancing the Two Attitudes

It is important to understand that some amount of bureaucracy is necessary. Rules, procedures, and hierarchy are required for discipline, order, and fairness. However, they should not dominate to the point of harming people’s welfare. A good public servant must balance both:

• Use rules to maintain fairness and discipline.
• Use democratic values to ensure that rules serve people and do not become obstacles.

The attitude of public servants is not just a personal matter – it affects the quality of governance and the health of democracy itself. A democratic attitude makes public service people-friendly, transparent, and fair, while a bureaucratic attitude often makes it rigid, slow, and alienating.

In modern governance, the need is for public servants who combine efficiency with empathy, discipline with democracy, and authority with accountability. By doing so, they can become true servants of the people, and not masters.