DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION

ASSAIGNMENT ON : PRISMATIC SALA MODEL AND ITS

APPLICABILITY IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES.

COURSE CODE: PA-2202

COURSE TITLE: COMPARATIVE PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION

SUBMITTED BY SUBMITTED TO
Name: Mahmudul Hasan Nishan Md. Mashiur Rahman,PhD
Roll: 171905 Associate Professor
3rd Year 2nd Semester Dept. of Public Administration,
Session: 2016-2017 Comilla University,Bangladesh.
Dept. of Public Administration,
Pabna University Of Science And
Technology.

Submission Date: 31-01-2021

Prismatic Sala Model
Fred W. Riggs is one of the very few scholars who contributed immensely to the emergence of
comparative public administration and to an in depth understanding of public administration in
these post-colonial countries. He was born in China 1917. He was the first chairman of the
Comparative Public Administration group and got PhD award in 1948 from Colombia
University. The best book written by him is “Administration in Developing Countries: The
Theory of Prismatic Society (1961)”. He was well known for his studies specially ‘Fused-
Prismatic-Diffracted Model’. The main thrust of his model is that Western Models are relatively
less relevant to the developing countries, which have unique environment/contexts- social
structures, economic life, cultural practices, political symbols, allocation of power, division of
labour, etc. Riggs analyzed interaction between the administration system and its environment in
prismatic societies. His Prismatic Sala model represents a traditional or developing society and
‘Sala’ is the administrative sub-system of it.
Sala is a Spanish word. Sala is the name given by Riggs to administrative sub-system of
prismatic society as the bureau and chamber was the name given to the administrative sub-
system of diffracted and fused societies respectively. The sala has certain features of diffracted
bureau and fused chamber. The administrative rationality and efficiency found in bureau are
absent in the sala. Riggs explained that in the prismatic societies, family, community, nepotism
etc., play important role in the appointment to various administrative positions and in taking
decisions or performing administrative functions. The model was designed to analyze the
behavior of the prismatic bureaucracy in the context of its ecology. He categorized societies into
three: 1-Fused 2-Prismatic 3-Diffracted. He used fused model to explain the ecology of
traditional societies. Prismatic society to explain the developing world. Diffracted society to
explain the developed societies. According to him no societies is neither totally fused nor
diffracted. Everyone share some features of the other.
Fused Society Heavily depend on agriculture; King and officials nominated by the King carry
out all administrative, economic and other activities. The conscious establishment of policies is
negligible. There is no distinct political or administrative structures. The political system is
neither democratic, nor autocratic.
Prismatic Society: In a prismatic Society, there exists characteristics of Fused and diffracted
Societies side by side. No real structural differentiation
Diffracted Society: Highly differentiated. Highly developed specialized structures of work.
Functions of the society are very specific. Level of integration is high. Pattern of behavior is
characterized by norms of universalism and achievements.
According to Riggs, prismatic society has three important characteristics, which are:
(i) Heterogeneity:
 There exists modern features of society side by side with traditional features.
 The people are not integrated but divided on line of religion etc.
 Unequal level of development.
 Highly westernized and modern urban sector co-exists with rural irrational sector.
ii) Formalism:
 Formalism is the deference between the prescribed and the practiced.
 Level of formalism is dependent on the nature of pressure for development. If the
pressure comes from outside, level of formalism increases.
 In Formalistic situation, values and norms may receive lip service but ignored in real
practice.
(iii) Functional overlapping:
In a prismatic society similar functions are performed by different institutions. This features
shows that differentiated structures co-exist with undifferentiated structures. Overlapping is
manifest in a prismatic society by many features e. g. nepotism, poly-communalism or poly
-normavativism, lack of consensus, separation of authority and control.

Applicability of Sala Model on developing countries

Actually in developed country we see the weberarian bureaucracy and in the developing
countries we find Riggsian Prismatic Sala model. This model is very much applicable in the
developing countries and this is very important for these type of countries. If we look over the
administration of the developing countries like Bangladesh we will notice the features of that
model is very much engaged with our administration system. As Bangladesh is a developing
country I will discuss in its perspective. Now I will discuss the features of Prismatic Sala model
and try to find the linkage with our administration.
Prismatic model of developing countries:
1. Heterogeneity: It is opposite to homogeneity. Here both traditional and developed system
exist in same time. It means a society is divided into haves and have nots. The bureaucracy
would protect interest of haves and ignore have-nots. It refers to the simultaneous presence of
quite different kinds of system, practices and viewpoints. If we look towards our country we will
find all of that. A prismatic society is characterized by a high degree of heterogeneity. There is a
urban areas with a high degree of structural differentiation and the intellectual class who have a
western rationalistic outlook on the contrary, in rural areas, traditional values. In a city like
Dhaka in one side we can see a skyscraper alongside slums huts. There is a huge gap and
inequality between rich and poor, western side of education coexist with traditional institutions.
Hospital with all modern facilities giving allopathic treatment. Letter is exist with e-mail.
Although equal opportunities exist for all, only some people are privileged enough and hope to
get the jobs. The presence of heterogeneous structures, practices outlooks and traits create
complex behavior patterns in developing society.
2. Formalism: The difference between stated and practiced is high. Thus bureaucracy plays
dominant role in policy making as executive is busy in power politics. Formalism gives rise to
administrative evils such as red tape, corruption and inefficiency, passing the buck, etc. In our
city corporations the town planning regulations are more violated than observed. In our country
like Bangladesh too much formalism is practiced than developed country. It will be clearer if we
look over the press conference of our president and the president of USA. When our prime
minister travels foreign countries our leaders reach airport for paying tribute and handshaking.
Actually this is not needed.
In Bangladesh the constitution legally vested the governance in the hands of the elected
representatives of the people, but in practices the real governmental power and influence are
wielded by some individuals or groups of people outsides the parliament. Constitution entrusts
law making responsibility to legislature but in reality they spend only a little time in law making;
and concentrate more in power politics, ignoring their legislative responsibility.
3. Overlapping: Modern as well as old and traditional structures carry on functions, but in
reality ,the functioning & behavior of the modern structures( such as parliament, government
offices, schools, market, etc.), are greatly influenced by old and traditional structures ( such as
the family, caste and religion, etc. ). The overlapping s found at various part of our system like
BAPEX, roads and highways, WASA etc. The administrative behavior determined by non-
administrative criteria, because of the overlapping administrative functions are performed in
prismatic societies, by structures specifically oriented towards these functions as well as by
others structures.
In prismatic society, overlapping has some different dimensions those are discussed below:
Nepotism: It is a curse of our administration. Wherever we look towards our administration we
will find it all over the place. The general people are depriving from their rights because of
nepotism though they live in a democratic country. In our society, there is a much nepotism in
recruitment and personnel matters. In prismatic society the sala man has social obligations
towards family and friends who need security against employment. They give preference to
family members and friends. Political executives of our country when they are in power they do
the welfare of their relatives and friends in employments and others matters. Even in PSC we
find nepotism.
Poly-communalism: Its refers to the existence of ( in prismatic society) several ethnic, racial,
religious and linguistic groups side by side but in a hostile interaction with each other. These
groups are termed as ‘clects’ by Riggs .Poly communalism in Bangladeshi society affects the
society i.e. each community fights for various special privileges (housing, economic benefits,
etc.) for their community. Usually, the dominant community gains more privileges and benefits,
this creates dissatisfaction among the numbers of people who belongs to others communities.
Bazar-canteen Model : Economic sub-system of prismatic society was termed as ‘bazaar –
canteen’ by Riggs. It combines both market economy and traditional economy. Hence prices of
goods keep fluctuating. A small section exploits a large number and controls economic
institutions. Prices of goods is determined by relationship between people and officials so it
varies largely like Bangladeshi economy. Black market, adulteration, hoarding, inflation is seen.
Exploitation, poverty, social injustice are main features which we can find in our economy.
Actually in developing nations market is totally filled with these problems. Persons with high
status and influence of our society have access to all sorts of privileges to which they have no
legal rights. People of a favored community are given preferential treatment in this model.
Poly Normativism : It is a Co-existence of modern, traditional norms leading to lack of
consensus on norms of behavior. In Bangladesh a new set of norms coexists with the traditional
ways of behavior and of doing things. To coordinate with each other ways some disorder
happened. That is called cultural aggression, which is slowly happening in our country. People
subscribe to different values and norms, consequently. This means that the traditional behaviour
pattern co-exists with ‘new’ sets of norms. This results in lack of consensus on norms of
behaviour. Sala officials though publicly claim to follow objective, universalistic and
achievement oriented norms.
Power Distribution : Riggs observes that in a prismatic society, the power structure consists of a
“high centralized. One can find unequal distribution of power, privileges, resources and services.
In our administration we also don’t have the real decentralization of power. This makes our
administration ineffective and inefficient.
Change Orientation: Historically we are not self-dependent. With the influence of external
factor we change our system, policy etc. like prismatic society. It is true that INDIA influences
us in many sector. So in this sense there is similarity.

From the above discussion we can understand that the features of Prismatic Sala model is very
much linked with the overall system of a developing country like Bangladesh. So finally we can
say that the applicability of Prismatic Sala Model is possible. Actually I think this model is
already lied with our system.

Criticism
 Prismatic model is an equilibrium model and does not lead any social change.
 Diffracted society is also not desirable because it is static and in equilibrium.
 Overlapping is not specific phenomena of prismatic society but exists in diffracted
society also.
 No quantitative levels to measure levels of prismatic and diffraction.
 Focus on negative character of prismatic society.
 Societies are characterized into fused, prismatic, diffracted on basis of capitalist values.
 Riggs uses American society as his model of a diffracted society. Although American
society is developed and industrialized but, it is wrong to infer that it is free of formalism
and no longer a prismatic society.
  Another critique of the “fused-prismatic-diffracted” model argues that while it is
predicated on the notion of deduction, there is little empirical evidence to support it.
 Riggs has considered the impact of external socio-cultural, economic and political factors
on sala but he has not much considered the impact of sala on socio-cultural and economic
factors.

Conclusion
The ideal type models of Riggs have influenced much research in Comparative Public
Administration. Ecological models help qualitative comparisons among various societies. The
ecological model has brought consciousness of interaction between administrative system and
the social environment around it. It enables comparative public administration scholars to
comprehend each country’s administrative attributes and differences. The model has also to a
great extent explained the problems of inefficiency in developing countries of the world.

Reference

Fred. W. Riggs on society and administration. (2014, October 3). Riggs sala
model. Retrieved from

https://www.slideshare.net/akidakhane/fred-w-riggs

Public Administration by G.Rajput. (n.d.). Riggs model of Comparative Public

Administration. Retrieved from

https://www.brainyias.com/riggs-model-of-comparative-public-
administration/

Policy Law and Governance, (2018, October 10). FW Riggs Theory of prismatic
society [Blog post]. Retrieved from
https://policyandgovernance.blogspot.com/2018/10/fw-riggs-theory-of-
prismatic-society-in.html