How were western European government & bureaucracy in the centuries following the collapse of the western roman empire more efficient and/or suited to the times than roman government? What about any inferiorities?
I'm not sure the question is even valid. How do you rate 'efficiency'. Western European could mean Irish, Scottish, Swiss, Danish, English, French etc... all quite different, which one do I compare? Rome lasted from 800bce to arguably 1453, which part of the 2200 year span are you referring to? Rome in its heyday was a reasonably literate and efficient democracy with a well functioning bureaucracy or civil service, many of the 'governments' of early middle ages lacked a central civil service organisation of the same relative size and organisation. If there were any superior efficiencies then it would be in this area that you would seek an answer.
I would argue that each were suited to their times because thats all that the 'the times' could support.
I'm not sure the question is even valid. -Thecna2
Downvoted! I thought this was the kind of attitude we were trying to move away from.