ABSTRACT
The author argues from the perspective of managing the state, reconciliation of what is defined as "the bureaucratic-democratic paradox" is at the heart of building strong nations. This reconciliation is crucial for the formation of a public administration that works, and thus restores citizens' trust and confidence in state authority and authorities. Most probably, a majority of the respondents would put the developed world of wealthy, Western states and some of the richest Asian countries in the column of strong nations, while the poorest countries in the developing world would be defined as weak nations. Mechanism for reconciliation between the political order of democracies and the administrative order of bureaucracies must be constructed if citizens and leaders wish to build a stronger society and a stronger nation. In the author's view, the path to national strength or weakness is guided by effective mechanisms of governability.
