PolGov_Power & authority

Politics

• Portrayed as the exercise of power & authority

• As the allocation of scarce resources

• An arena of deception and/or manipulation

• “The dynamics of power in the society”

Max Weber, German sociologist

Opportunity exists within a social relationship which permits one to carry out one's own will even against resistance.

Power

Ability to impose one's will on others despite the “others” resistance.

Authority

• Exist whenever one, several or many people explicitly or tacitly permit someone else to make decisions for them in some category of acts.

Basic Definition of Politics

• Future-oriented, foresight 

• Polis in Greek meaning market

• Proactive interactive, not reactive

Sources of Power

1. Social class

2. Social status

Social class (Sources of power)

Position of person in the economic ladder of society-upper, middle or lower class as shown in his amount of wealth & income

Social status (Sources of power)

One's life choice/position in the market as indicated by one’s credentials, level of education and prestige earned in society.

Classic view of Power

• “Position” 

• If one has wealth + social influence, one is powerful.

Michelle Foucault

power seems more as a personal exercise, something that is achieved by the actor's effective use of strategies and manipulation to advance his/her own interest.

Sources of authority

1. Charismatic

2. Traditional

3. Rational-legal

Charismatic (Sources of authority)

• Founded on personal trait and grit of the leader.

• The more authentic these are perceived by the people, the higher legitimacy of the leader.

Traditional (Sources of authority)

• Based on tradition handed down from past.

• Leader is obeyed by the people as legitimate due to informal norm from the elders in society.

• Legitimacy of Authority figure based on custom.

Rational-legal (Sources of authority)

• Based on set of rules and belief in legitimacy of process of rule creation and enforcement.

• Leader assumes the right to exercise power over the people because the law says so.