State survival bureaucracy (SSB): state sustainability after Arab revolutions

Abstract

Purpose Non-politicized bureaucracy plays a fundamental role in the survival of states during times of transition and drastic change. Moreover, non-politicized bureaucracy protects state institutions from failing. In fact, state survival bureaucracy (SSB), as an alternative to Deep State, obtains all mechanisms for the sustainability of the state, both its entity and identity. In case of resistance to the elected officials and executives’ abrupt decisions, professionals and experts came up with Deep State to reflect the elements of rejection. Design/methodology/approach The paper uses both system and function approaches in analyzing the role of bureaucracy in states going through transition. It also draws comparisons from the harsh experiences in the Arab region after Arab revolutions where most of the states collapsed while Tunisia and Egypt survived. The authors will use the available literature in reviewing different arguments regarding the role of bureaucracy in addition to the own observations as scholars who were engaged in the political process in Egypt for sometimes and during the drastic changes since January 25, 2011 and the knowledge about political process in Tunisia and other Arab states. Findings In the study of the collapse of a number of Arab states and the survival of Tunisia and Egypt, it was found out that it is SSB which holds state together in cases of drastic changes or tangible threats. SSB includes bureaucrats and policy implementing agencies that are committed to both entity and identity of the state. The role of SSB emerges clearly in a state of utmost survival crisis of the state. SSB does inherently obtain self-correcting mechanisms that help states face, experience drastic change and cope with it. Originality/value Non-politicized bureaucracy plays a fundamental role in the survival of states during times of transition and drastic change. Moreover, non-politicized bureaucracy protects state institutions from failing. In fact, SSB as an alternative to Deep State, as defined in this paper, obtains all mechanisms for the sustainability of the state, both its entity and identity. The analysis will show how SSB is a constructive mechanism for the survival of the state when its entity and identity as well as well-established national interests are under tangible threats.

Perspective chapter: Institutional Structural Reform and Sustainable Resilience

“…The role of management should not stop at the limit of improvement, even if it affects all variables because it is limited in its scope and objectives, but it should lead to the speedy introduction and implementation of an innovative idea or mechanism with the aim of interlocking positive change and deals with the stagnation of the current situation and the difficulty of its transformation into an appropriate and stimulating situation. Management by initiative, undertaking risk, creativity and predictability, goes beyond traditional functions of management, planning, implementation or follow-up but extends to presenting innovative initiatives and coordinating between the various state agencies to create synergy in responding to requirements of change [21]. In fact, achieving the requirements of development and competitiveness is a national goal to break out of the chain of dependence on major countries and highly contributes to sustainable development.…”

“…The concept of bureaucracy for the survival of the state includes the administrative apparatus and its institutions, which are committed to preserving the identity and entity of the state, and whose role appears clearly in countries facing real survival crises. The bureaucracy for the survival possesses self-correcting mechanisms that enable the state facing tidal changes to deal with these changes [21]. This also requires the integration of a new concept and methodology for risk management in all administrative functions to enhance the resilience of institutions and their ability to adapt.…”

Institutional Structural Reform by Implementing the Digital Governance

“…Management by initiative means that the function of management does not stop at implementation or follow-up but extends to presenting effective and favorable initiatives and then coordinating between the various state agencies to find harmony between them in responding to the demands of change. The structural reform process requires, first of all, an initiative with a national administrative thought that is not only effective and rational, but it is also characterized by risk, creativity and predictability, bearing in mind that achieving the requirements of development and competitiveness represents a national goal to break free from the chain of dependence on major countries, and clearly contribute to achieving sustainable development (3,192).…”