ABSTRACT
This is not the place to expand too far on the subject of and theories about the role of the state and the shape and size of bureaucracies. It seems necessary, however, to offer some general considerations and briefly frame the question in its politico-economic setting. With reference to the Middle East, the reader may find it particularly useful to consult Ayubi [1985; 1986a], Gellner [1981] and Turner [1974].
