Abstract
In the introduction of this study it will be investigated to what extent the more recent interpretations of the works of Max Weber concerning the development of bureaucracy can be applied to the study of the administrative development of the town and buitenie, the hamlets, of Weert at the time of the 'ancien regime'. We will also study to what extent Elias' theory concerning the civilisation process fits into the framework of the expansion of the governmental duties. The above authors' views are contrasted with those of Blickle, whose theory of communalism holds that government organisation is imposed by the people rather than by the authorities. For Blickle, the driving force is the community, grown out of a cooperative movement of people who were no longer restricted in their cooperative actions by the feudal system. In Part I of the book it will be explained that there was only one schepenbank, 'a bench of aldermen who administered justice', and also one collective administration of schout, 'bailiff', schepenen and mayors. Part II deals with jurisdiction, the core of public authority. Part III of this book deals with 'police', all public duties that do not involve 'jurisdiction', including the issuing of rules and finance at the local level. In the final conclusion it becomes clear that within Blickle's theory of communalism, in Weert there could only be partly question of government organisation by the people, because a mildly feudal system was still in force in this town. Nevertheless, the town of Weert saw the development of a society which strongly resembles a community with a high degree of autonomy. In the eighteenth century the central government got strong influence upon the local government.
