Debureaucratization in Modern Public Service: Concepts, Tools, and Paradoxes Introduction: From Weber's Critique to the Search for a New Paradigm Debureaucratization in modern public administration is not about abolishing bureaucracy as such, but about a targeted process of its transformation. The goal is to overcome the dysfunctions of the classical Weberian model (rigidity, bureaucracy, alienation) while preserving its key virtues: predictability, impartiality, and accountability. This movement is from process-driven administration to outcome-driven and citizen-centric administration. Conceptually, it relies on the ideas of New Public Management (NPM), Digital-Era Governance, and co-production of services. 1. Theoretical Foundations and Driving Forces The impulses for debureaucratization come from several sources: Economic: pressure on the efficient use of budgetary funds, the requirement to reduce transaction costs for businesses and citizens. Technological: digital platforms fundamentally change the logic of service delivery, making many intermediate links and paper carriers redundant. Socio-political: the growing demand for transparency, accountability, and convenience from citizens, fatigue from excessive administration. Management: the realization that the path of constant rule and control complexity for solving new problems is a dead end. 2. Key Directions and Tools of Debureaucratization 2.1. Digitalization as the Main Driver: Creation of a "single window" in the digital environment. The GOV.UK portal launched in 2012 by the UK Government Digital Service (GDS) became a benchmark. It unified thousands of government agency websites into a single platform with a simple design focused on user needs (user journey), not on the structure of departments. This reduced the time spent searching for information from hours to minutes. Implementation of cross-governmental services. An example is the Estonian X-Road system, where upon the citizen's request and with their ... Read more