What constitutes the ethical and professional identity of the modern public servant in a democratic society? Paul du Gay, a prominent scholar in organizational sociology, examines the historical and philosophical foundations of the office as a distinct vocation. He argues against the encroachment of managerialism, asserting that the bureaucratic role requires a specific set of virtues and institutional commitments that are essential to the maintenance of public order and democratic accountability.

Scholars in public administration frequently cite this work as a critical defense of traditional bureaucratic values against contemporary neoliberal trends. Readers often note the dense, academic prose that requires a foundational understanding of Max Weber and political theory to fully appreciate the author's arguments.