The book "Neither Civil Nor Servant" argues that the modern bureaucracy has lost its way, caught between the competing demands of politics, markets, and citizens. The authors contend that the traditional Weberian model of bureaucracy, which emphasized neutrality, impartiality, and a strict hierarchy, is no longer relevant in today's complex and dynamic society. Instead, public administrators are expected to be responsive to multiple stakeholders, navigate ambiguous policy environments, and manage competing priorities.
"We travel in red-beacon cars, we have servants at home, we are addressed as 'His Excellency' or 'Sir.' And then we claim we are 'servants' of the poor. It is a grotesque farce."
Shortly after its release, the book ran into legal trouble. A group of IAS officers filed a petition against the book, claiming it defamed the service. A court issued an injunction temporarily restraining the publication and sale of the book. For several years, . This "banned book" status created a massive underground demand. While the ban was later lifted on appeal (the court ruled that criticism of an institution is not defamation), the aura of a forbidden text persists.