Authoritarian Oversight Vs. Democratic Oversight

Some people have more power than others.

When the former puts the latter in check, it’s authoritarian oversight.

When both puts each other in check, it’s democratic oversight.

You might wonder, what if the latter puts the former in check but not vice versa? No, that just doesn’t happen because the latter never has enough power to do that.

If you have more power than I do, then:

• You put me in check is authoritarian oversight;
• You and I put each other in check equally is democratic oversight;
• If I cannot put you in check just as effective and efficient as you put me, then it’s still an authoritarian oversight.

Now, think of all the oversight you’ve seen in your life and work, in society and in organization.

Where do you see democratic oversight? And where do you see authoritarian oversight?

Chances are, you see the former more in societies, and you see the latter more in organizations.

For the luckier of us, we live in a democratic society full of authoritarian organizations.

What justifies authoritarian oversight?

And what justifies authoritarian organizations?

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