Power and Authority – Vocabulary Flashcards

Power and Authority

• Power and Politics
  • Power refers to the distribution and exercise of power within a society; polity is the political institution through which power is distributed and exercised.
  • Decisions about resources and other matters must be made in any society, by specific people or organizations.
  • Sometimes decisions benefit only certain individuals or groups; other times they benefit society as a whole.
  • Central point: some individuals and groups have more power than others.
  • Power is essential to politics and is studied by social scientists in both visible and invisible forms; much of it occurs behind the scenes and is debated in terms of who wields it and for whose benefit.
  • Everyday vivid examples of power include police presence influencing driver behavior, parental curfews, and a child giving lunch to a bully; these illustrate power and its misuse, but much power operates in subtler ways.
  • Power that is exercised in a manner that people deem legitimate is distinguished as legitimate authority.
  • Foundational source for legitimacy: Max Weber’s concept of legitimate authority; power whose use is considered just and appropriate by those over whom it is exercised. The police car example in a rearview mirror is often cited as an illustration of legitimate authority.
  • Key sources:
  • Wrong, D. H. (1996). Power: Its forms, bases, and uses. New Brunswick, NJ: Transaction.
  • Weber, M. (1921/1978). Economy and society: An outline of interpretive sociology (G. Roth & C. Wittich., Eds.). Berkeley: University of California Press. (Original work published 1921)
• Legitimate Authority
  • Weber’s insight: legitimate authority is a special form of power that is widely accepted as just and appropriate by those who are subjected to it.
  • If a society approves of the exercise of power in a particular way, that power is considered legitimate authority.
  • Distinction between power and legitimate authority helps explain why citizens comply with rules they might resist in other contexts.
  • The police car example demonstrates legitimate authority through acceptance of its role and rules by society and motorists.

Traditional Authority

• Definition and basis
  • Traditional authority is power rooted in long-standing beliefs and practices of a society.
  • It exists and is assigned to individuals because of customs and traditions.
• How traditional authority is granted
  • Inheritance: individuals receive traditional authority because they are children or relatives of those who already exercise it.
  • Religious designation: societies may believe leaders are anointed by God or the gods to lead.
• Typical contexts
  • Common in preindustrial societies where tradition and custom matter most.
  • Present in modern monarchies (kings, queens, princes) who derive authority from royal lineage.
• Character and limitations
  • Authority is granted regardless of qualifications or skills.
  • An individual with traditional authority may be intelligent or foolish, fair or arbitrary, exciting or dull; the authority is not contingent on merit.
  • Because authority is not tied to demonstrated competence, traditional-Authority systems can produce leaders who are not well suited to the job.

Rational-Legal Authority

• Definition and basis
  • Rational-legal authority derives from law and is grounded in the belief in the legitimacy of a society’s laws and rules and the right of leaders to act under these rules.
• Key features
  • Hallmark of modern democracies: power is given to people elected by voters.
  • Authority resides in the office that a person fills, not in the individual per se.
  • The rules governing wielding power are usually set forth in a constitution, charter, or other written document.
• Office-based legitimacy
  • Unlike traditional authority (which rests on inheritance or divine designation), rational-legal authority is attached to the office.
• Role in institutional stability
  • Helps ensure an orderly transfer of power in times of crisis or vacancy.
  • Transfers of power occur because the office defines the succession and powers, not the personal attributes of the individual holding it.
• Historical examples of smooth transfers (illustrative cases)
  • John F. Kennedy’s assassination in 1963 led to Lyndon B. Johnson being sworn in as president immediately, with power transferring under constitutional rules.
  • Richard Nixon’s resignation in 1974 led to Gerald Ford becoming president, after Spiro Agnew’s resignation killed the vice-presidential vacancy chain (Ford had become vice president after Agnew’s resignation).
  • The U.S. Constitution provides for the transfer of power when the presidency is vacant, contributing to a smooth and orderly transition.
• Public acceptance
  • The transfer is considered legitimate because it occurs within the framework of the constitutional order, even if voters did not choose the person who assumes office.
  • Authority resides in the presidency as an office, not in a particular individual who happens to hold the office at a given time.
• Implications
  • The system’s legitimacy rests on the rule of law and the offices rather than on individual leaders’ charisma or personal qualities.

Charismatic Authority

• Definition and basis
  • Charismatic authority stems from an individual’s extraordinary personal qualities and the follower’s belief in those qualities.
  • It can apply to a broad segment of society or to a specific group within society.
• Potential for good or bad outcomes
  • Charismatic leaders can inspire and mobilize followers for positive change or lead to harmful movements.
• Notable examples (illustrative list)
  • Joan of Arc, Adolf Hitler, Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King Jr., Jesus Christ, Muhammad, Buddha.
• The MLK example (from the notes)
  • Much of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s appeal stemmed from his extraordinary speaking skills and other personal qualities, contributing to his charismatic authority.
• Charisma across traditions
  • Charismatic authority can reside in individuals who attain leadership through traditional or rational-legal pathways.
• Historical breadth
  • Over the centuries, several kings and queens (in Europe) were charismatic leaders to varying degrees.
  • Some U.S. presidents—Washington, Lincoln, both Roosevelts, Kennedy, Reagan, and, despite faults, Clinton—have been described as charismatic, with public and press admiration enhancing their authority.
• Stability concerns
  • Weber emphasized that pure charismatic authority is less stable than traditional or rational-legal authority.
  • Why? Charisma is tied to a person; when that person dies, the direct basis for authority often dies as well.
  • Although a charismatic leader’s example may continue to inspire, it is difficult for a successor to command the same level of devotion.
• Replacement and risk
  • Charismatic leaders often anticipate succession by designating a replacement who may be a child or someone the leader trusts.
  • The risk is that the new leader may lack sufficient charisma to maintain the same level of devotion.

Routinization and Transformation of Charisma

• The problem of succession
  • Because charismatic authority is intrinsically linked to a leader’s personal qualities, there is a need to secure continuity after the leader’s death or departure.
• Transformation pathways (Weber’s concept: routinization of charisma)
  • Charismatic authority can become more stable when it is transformed into either traditional authority or rational-legal authority.
• Transformation into traditional authority
  • Occurs when charisma becomes absorbed into a bloodline or lineage, passing authority to children or descendants.
• Transformation into rational-legal authority
  • Occurs when a charismatic movement develops formal rules, institutions, and bureaucratic structures that regulate power, making authority operate through offices and procedures rather than personal charm.
• Weber’s term: routinization of charisma
  • This term describes the process by which charisma is transformed into more stable forms of authority (traditional or rational-legal).
• Practical implications
  • Routinization explains why most enduring political systems are not built solely on the personal magnetism of a single leader but on institutions, laws, and ongoing practices.
• Notable observations about charisma and succession
  • If leaders fail to routinize charisma, transitions can undermine the movement or state they founded.
  • The long-term stability of a polity is enhanced when charisma is institutionalized into a stable framework rather than remaining a purely personal attribute.

Connections, Implications, and Relevance

• Foundational ideas
  • The three forms of authority illustrate how power is legitimized and exercised across different societal structures.
  • The shift from traditional to rational-legal authority characterizes the modern evolution of political systems.
• Real-world relevance
  • Democratic systems rely on rational-legal authority and constitutional rules to ensure stability and orderly power transitions.
  • The study of legitimacy helps explain why people obey laws and leaders and how institutions endure beyond individual rulers.
• Ethical and philosophical implications
  • The legitimacy of power depends on collective beliefs about justice and appropriateness of rule, raising questions about who gets to decide what is just.
  • The tension between personal charisma and institutional rules reflects debates about individual authority vs. institutional legitimization.
• Foundational references
  • Wrong, D. H. (1996). Power: Its forms, bases, and uses. New Brunswick, NJ: Transaction.
  • Weber, M. (1921/1978). Economy and society: An outline of interpretive sociology (G. Roth & C. Wittich., Eds.). Berkeley: University of California Press. (Original work published 1921)
• Summary of key terms
  • Power: the ability to have one’s will carried out despite resistance.
  • Legitimate authority: power that is perceived as just and appropriate by those subjected to it; a special form of power.
  • Traditional Authority: authority rooted in custom, inheritance, or divine designation.
  • Rational-Legal Authority: authority grounded in laws and offices; power resides in the office.
  • Charismatic Authority: authority based on a leader’s extraordinary personal qualities.
  • Routinization of Charisma: the process by which charismatic authority becomes traditional or rational-legal authority, stabilizing governance.

ext{Key equations / formulations (illustrative):}

• LegitimateAuthority = ext{Power deemed just and appropriate by subjects}
• CharismaticAuthority
  ightarrow ( ext{TraditionallyOrRationalLegal}) ext{ via routinization}