In this article, it is argued that under the current promarket global atmosphere, there has been a significant shift in the nature of the state in developing countries toward the formation of a "market-centered" state. Under this emerging market-centered state, there have been similar market-oriented changes in the objectives, roles, institutions, norms, and beneficiaries of state bureaucracy. Although these recent changes in bureaucracy have often been introduced in the name of greater trans parency and accountability, in reality, the adverse outcomes of such promarket changes constitute more critical challenges to bureaucratic accountability, and thus represent a new accountability paradox in devel oping countries. In line with this contention, the article includes the following analytical components: (1) an overview of the linkages between the nature of the state and the mode of bureaucratic accountability, (2) an analysis of the recent promarket changes in the nature of the state in developing countries, (3) an illustration of the corresponding changes in bureaucracy under the emerging market-centered state, (4) a critical assessment of the major challenges posed by these market-oriented changes to the realization of bureaucratic accountability, and (5) a concluding outline suggesting some necessary measures for rectifying the situation.