Pabna University of Science and

Technology
Department of Public Administration
Course name: Comparative Public Administration
Course code: PA 3202

An assignment on
Prismatic-Sala-Model and it’s applicability in
developing countries

Submittted To,
Submitted By,
Md.Mashiur Rahman,PhD
Name: Asif Abdullah
Associate professor,
Roll:171902
Department of Public Administration,
Session: 2016-17
3rd year 2nd semester Comilla University, Bangladesh
Submission Date: 31.01.2021

Basic conceptual view of Prismatic Sala Model

F.W. Riggs was born in China, who was one of the pioneers in the development of
administrative models and theories: and the most represented administrative thinker in
modern society. Riggs was well-known for his studies in Comparative Public Administration
(CPA): especially the Riggisan’s Model. – “Fused-Prismatic-Diffracted Model”.
(Ramulu,2018)

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Riggs made a great effort in searching for an objective and effective model for analyzing
Public Administration in the developing countries.(Peng,2008). The limitations of “Agraria-
industria” model and the criticisms against it forced Riggs to abandon it and construct the
“Fused-Prismatic-Diffracted Model”. Riggs devoted much of his effort on “Prismatic Sala
Model” to explain the nature and administration of the post-colonial emergent nations
(developing nations). (UPSC Public Administration,2017)
F.W. Riggs divided societies into 3 categories;
01. Fused

A society which performed all the functions necessary for its survival by a single structure is
called fused. He used fused society as traditional underdeveloped societies.
02. Diffracted

A society that has got different specialized structures is diffracted. He used diffracted society
as modern societies.
03. Prismatic

A society in which there is a mixture of traditional and modern structures is called prismatic.
He used prismatic society as developing third world societies.
Main Theme Of Prismatic Sala Model
A society or social system that stands midway between the fused and the diffracted models is
known as the prismatic society. No society can be exclusively called either fused or
diffracted, all societies are generally prismatic in nature. The character of every society and
their relatively either or to the fused or to the diffracted society, depends on the nature of its
various structures and functions carried out by them.

Figure; Prismatic view of society

The prismatic society has its appropriate administrative system. Riggs has formulated the
most elaborate Prismatic-Sala model for studying the administrative sub-system of the
prismatic society. Prismatic- Sala Model is designed to analyze the behavior of the Prismatic
bureaucracy in the context of ecology.
Riggs has borrowed the Spanish word “Sala” for the prismatic bureau. Sala means a
government office, where administrative business is transacted, and a personal room in a
house where traditional family functions are performed, or Curch or public hall.

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The prismatic Sala combines the traits of both the fused ‘chamber’ and diffracted ‘office’. It
merges administrative tasks with traditional functions. The bureaucrats in the prismatic
society and its administrative sub system.
Riggs conceptualized ‘prismatic society’ as a mid-point form of transitional society between
the two ideal types, combining the features of both-fused and diffracted. Riggs articulated
this prismatic model based on the metaphor of prism – as the fused white sunlight (which
represents the fusion of several colours) passes through a prism, it becomes diffracted into
several separate colours. Here the fused light signifies the fused structures of traditional
society (single structure performing all necessary functions); the diffracted colours represent
the specialized or differentiated structures of modern society (separate structures or
institutions for major functions); and the situation within the prism (which is a transitional
phase between the fused and diffracted stages) reflects the condition in developing nations,
which Riggs began to define as prismatic societies. Riggs identifies some characteristics of
prismatic societies’ administration which are very common in the developing countries. The
model so called prismatic is characterized by the following:
(a) Heterogeneity:
Heterogeneity refers to the Simultaneous existence of different kinds of rules, laws,
procedures, system and viewpoints. For example, farmers, labor, doctor, fishermen, rural-
urban, etc. There are many sub-system functions in a society.
(b) Formalism:
This important feature which show a wide gap between theory & practice i.e. what is
formally prescribed & effectively practiced. It shows a distinction between norms & realities.
The extent to which discrepancy exists between the prescriptive and the descriptive, between
the formal and effective power and also between impressions and actual practices. Rules and
regulations are prescribed but wide deviations are observed. Constitutional principles which
means that there is a gap between stated principles and actual implementation.
(c) Overlapping:
Over-lapping refers to the extent to which what is described as administrative behavior is
actually determined by non-administrative criteria, by i. e. social, political, administrative,
religious and other factors etc. Because of overlapping administrative functions are
performed in prismatic societies, by structures specifically oriented towards these functions
by other structures. Modern social structures are created but traditional social structure
continues to dominate. For example, parliamentary Govt. offices exist but behaviour is still
largely governed by family, religion, caste etc.
In prismatic society, overlapping has some different dimensions, such as
Nepotism
According to Collins dictionary,” Nepotism is the unfair use of power in order to get jobs or
other benefits for your family or friends”. In prismatic society, sala officials have social
obligations to family and friends who need social obligation who need security against

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unemployment. They give preferences to family members, kith and kin as well as friends in
making appointments to government positions. Similarly non-merit considerations are greatly
influence in assignment, promotion, transfer as well as other personnel actions in the service.
(UPSC Public Administration,2017)
Poly communalism
Poly communism refers to get extra privilege because of having membership of a special
community religion, race, custom as well as any linguistic group etc.
Bazar canteen model
The economic sense (i. e. economic sub-system) in a prismatic society is called Bazar
Canteen. In a prismatic bazar, the prices of goods and services are not fixed and each
transaction is based on bargaining. As a result, different persons are charged for different
prices in the same goods. Thus, person with high social and political status can get goods and
services at cheaper rates than people from oppressed community.
Poly normativism
In prismatic society, a new set of norms coexists with the traditional ways of behavior and of
doing things. People subscribe to different values and norms.
Power distribution
Riggs observed that in a prismatic society, power structure consists of a “highly centralized
and concentrated authority structure overlapping a control system that is highly localized and
dispersed”. (UPSC Public Administration,2017)
Change orientation
In prismatic society, sala officials have not enough confidence on themselves and their
techniques and creativity. They are highly dependent on developed countries on ideas and
administrative techniques.

Discussion about the applicability of Prismatic Sala model in developing countries

Prismatic Sala model is highly relevant with developing countries administrative sub-system.
The basic nature of administrative sub-system in the developing countries are more or less
same as mentioned in prismatic sala model. Now I make an attempt to analyze the degree of
applicability of Prismatic Sala Model in the developing countries. As Bangladesh is one of
the leading developing countries, so I use many Bangladesh’s administrative event as
example for better understanding.

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I explain the applicability of Prismatic Sala Model in following points;
In a prismatic society, many sub-system function in the society. Here people are not
homogenous, some one farmer, some one labor, some one fishermen, doctor and so on. In
Bangladesh society is quite similar with heterogeneity of prismatic Sala model. Here all the
people aren’t homogenous.
According to Riggs, in a prismatic society there is a wide gap between theory and practice,
gap between norms and reality. In Bangladesh, when any prime minister or president goes to
abroad or any state tour, a big entourage group go with him/ her in the airport for seeing off.
The same event happens in prime minister press conference where as in developed society,
totally reverse culture is existed.
Overlapping is very common phenomenon in Sala of prismatic society. In Bangladesh, the
administrative duties of a sub-system aren’t clear. one interferes other duties like WASA,
Roads and Highways regularly interfere one another duties, there is no co-operation among
them. In Sala of developing societies, it’s common phenomenon that family’s, traditional,
religious rules are still dominating in the administrative sub-system in the developing
countries.
Nepotism is more or less exist in all the society but in the Sala’s of developing countries is
very common. “In Bangladesh, nepotism becomes a social disease in Bangladesh. The
majority of public service institutions are polluted by nepotism from top to bottom level of
the society. If one person wants to get appointment in any important positions or posts, she or
he must get involved in nepotism’’(Parvez,2011)
In India, specific class of people get more privilege administrative sub system, such as
Bramman’s get much privilege than Dalits. In the 3 rd world developing countries, there are
many communities, so there are a common tendency to give much privilege to his or her 0wn
communities. In Pakistan Sunni’s get much privilege than Sya.
In Bazar Canteen model, here always tries to balance between demand and supply. As a
results, the prices of goods and services are determined by bargaining. Although, here says
that every one equal, as a matter of true fact that different persons are charged for different
prices in the same goods. Thus, person with high social and political status can get goods and
services at cheaper rates than people from oppressed community. Moreover, privileged class
of people get any kind of service from anywhere in the prismatic society get best services
without any kind of harassments.
There are many traditional and modern rules, norms and values in the prismatic societies in
the developing countries. people often confused about what they should be taken.
In the prismatic societies, power are highly centralized. Authority are not delegated in a
proper manner. In Bangladesh, Power and authority are not decentralized in appropriate
manner to the local government bodies.
In prismatic societies administration, Sala men or administrative officials are not enough
confident on themselves, their techniques as well as ideas. They often want to go to abroad in

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the name of better training. But true fact is that, they go to abroad for taking training about
very silly matter like hodgepodge cooking, potato cultivation and so on.
Concluding remarks
F.W. Riggs was one of the prominent scholars in development administration who gave the
prismatic Sala model to understand the developing countries’ administration. Among the 195
independent countries, most of the countries are developing countries. Moreover, mostly
those developing nations are independent from British or Franch or any colonial domination.
So, it is quite difficult to anyone to understand and analyze those countries administration by
any particular theory. Because there are an absolute mixture of colonial roots, traditional
roots as well as modern norms and values. As a matter of fact that, Riggs Prismatic Sala
model satisfies most of the theorists and students to understand the complex prismatic
societies Salas. To sum up our discussion, the characteristics of prismatic Sala model are
highly relevance in the developing countries like Bangladesh, India, Pakistan and the like.
Corruption, nepotism, lack of co-ordination, improper utilization of resources, formalism,
overlapping, caste system, community clash, unequal service distribution are very common in
the developing countries in the world as those are mentioned in the Prismatic Sala Model.
References
1. Ramulu, C. B. (2018). Fred W. Riggs’ ecological approach to administrative theory.
Retrieved fromhttp://epgp.inflibnet.ac.in/epgpdata/uploads/epgp_content/S000030PU/P0015
02/M016168/ET/146537024115.ET.Fr ed_W_Riggs-Ch._Bala_Ramalu.pdf

2. Peng, W.(2008).A critique of Fred W. Riggs’ ecology of public administration. International

Public Management Review 9(1): 214- 226

3. UPSC Public Administration, (2017 Jul 31), Fred W. Riggs: Ideal Models (Fused - Prismatic -
Diffracted) (UPSC Pub Ad by Ashish),
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TmqEXh4VSn8&t=3951s,
4. M.M Parvez,(April 17, 2011), Stop Nepotism, Daily star, p,5.