put on the question of curbing bureaucracy. Apart from the
preganant evidence provided by the socialist countries, the Soviet
Union in particular, to the effect that this phenomenon can be a
formidable stumbling block to the development of socialist
relations, there should be ample reason for concern about this
problem. First Tanzania ought to realise that she is trying to tran-
sform herself by using an administrative machinery inherited from
colonialism — a machinery which is therefore basically a ‘law and
order’ instrument. Secondly, the rapid expansion of the state sector
of the economy obviously multiplies the problems of respon-
siveness of the administration to popular control.

The circular seems to assume that ‘managements’ generally
have interests that coincide with those of workers — so that the
problem really is just to occaionally involve the workers in
management so as to tap their creativity and thereby increase
production.

It is therefore not surprising that the managers of the
parastatals, at their meeting called to discuss workers’ par-
ticipation viewed the issue as one more technique of manipulating
the workers to produce more. Their conference recommended that
‘workers be invited to take part in decision-making on matters
which affected them and the company, for this was one of the major
incentives — above all other techniques’.®®

No wonder managements are given a surprisingly dominant
role in the workers' councils. When the idea of workers’ councils
was first mooted in 1969, it was stated that these would be
headed by the party chairman in the respective industries. But the
circular later made the Manager of the enterprise chairman of the
enterprise’s workers’ council at least for the first year. Moreover,
heads of departments or sections become permanent members of
the council. In fact the circular adds that the elected members in
any council, should not exceed three-quarters of the total mem-
bership. In addition, it is management which appoints the
secretary of the council.®

If my earlier argument that relations between management and
workers in the underdeveloped world are generally authoritarian
and paternalistic is correct, this does not seem to be a very genuine
way of combating bureaucratism and bringing in the workers to
the fore of decision-making processes in the economic field. It is
difficult to envisage how popular pressures can transform the

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