British empire Quote by Simon Collier
““While it cannot be denied that the state's enhanced role in the mid-twentieth century necessitated a larger bureaucracy, or that the officials of CORFO (for instance) served their country well, the suspicion remains that the expanded public administration was (to adapt the celebrated phrase about the British empire) in part a system of indoor relief for the Chilean middle class.””
About This Quote
Source Book: History of Chile, 1995
State expansion created bureaucracy; suspicion of it serving as indoor relief for middle class.
In simple terms: Government growth may mask hidden aid.
Critically assess state interventions.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- policy analysis
- activism
- academic research
- public debate
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- Is the bureaucracy a relief or a burden?
- How can citizens ensure transparency?
Bureaucracy can be necessary; motives may be mixed.