Catch 22 And Bureacratic Ritualism

6 Pages 1567 Words

Joseph Heller’s novel, “Catch-22” has many different examples of sociological problems and behaviors. More specifically there are numerous examples of bureaucratic ritualism in “Catch-22.” Bureaucratic ritualism occurs when workers conform to rules and procedures to such a degree that they become more important than the goals. People become so focused on the rules they are supposed to follow that what the rules are supposed to accomplish or solve take a backseat to following the rules perfectly. I will focus on examples of bureaucratic ritualism in which rules are followed or implemented in such a manner that they become counter active or in conflicting position of the original intent of the rule or procedure.
The first example is when Captain Black’s tent was used for educational intelligence meetings. On page 44, at the end of every meeting there would be a question and answer session. After one meeting there was a number of strange questions that had no answers. Group headquarters did not like the asking of these strange and unusual questions so they implemented a rule that only those who never asked questions could now ask questions. By implementing this rule they have now counter acted the point of the question and answer session. The following of bureaucratic rules has now eliminated the question and answer session and then finally the meetings altogether because no one is allowed to ask questions unless they don’t ask any and those who asked questions were the only ones who attended in the first place. The goal of the meetings to inform the men by answering their questions has been forgotten for the following of the new rule.
The second example, on page 147 illustrates the dwindling importance of goals in a bureaucracy when an over emphasis is put on following the rules. Yossarian is reprimanded for going over a target a second time. According to procedure they are only to fly over a target one time. Yossarian...