Final answer:
Max Weber's rational model of bureaucracy defines it as an ideal organizational structure featuring hierarchy, division of labor, explicit rules, and impersonality, focused on efficiency and merit but potentially limiting individual agency.
Step-by-step explanation:
The rational model of bureaucracy by Max Weber is a concept in sociology that describes bureaucracy as an ideal type of formal organization. According to Weber, a rational society is built around logic and efficiency rather than morality or tradition, which he saw as a result of the Industrial Revolution. The ideal Weberian model of a bureaucracy comprises several key characteristics: a hierarchy of authority, a clear division of labor, explicit rules, impersonality, and being apolitical. This structure is designed to be efficient, removing personal biases and ensuring a merit-based system of governance. However, Weber also recognized the potential drawbacks of bureaucracy, such as becoming an "iron cage" that could stifle individual happiness and freedom due to its rigid norms.