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📘 Model Answer 4
Fred Riggs – Prismatic Theory

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Question

“Riggs’ prismatic model explains administrative dysfunction in developing societies.” Discuss.

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 Model Answer (250 Words)

Fred Riggs developed the prismatic model as part of Comparative Public Administration to explain the structural and functional complexities of developing societies. Unlike the fused model of traditional societies and the diffracted model of developed societies, the prismatic model represents transitional systems.

Riggs identified key characteristics such as heterogeneity, formalism, and overlapping. Heterogeneity refers to the coexistence of traditional and modern institutions. Formalism denotes the gap between official rules and actual practices, often resulting in inefficiency. Overlapping indicates blurred boundaries between political, administrative, and social roles, leading to nepotism and corruption.

Through the “Sala model,” Riggs illustrated how administrative institutions in developing societies often function inefficiently due to ecological and socio-cultural factors. His theory shifted attention from purely structural explanations to the broader social environment influencing administration.

However, critics argue that Riggs overgeneralized developing countries and underestimated internal diversity. Globalization and administrative reforms have also reduced some of the rigid distinctions proposed in the model.

Despite criticism, Riggs’ framework remains relevant for understanding administrative challenges in countries like India, where formal rules sometimes coexist with informal practices.

Thus, the prismatic model provides valuable insight into transitional administrative systems, though it requires contextual adaptation.

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