Authority is legitimate and formal, while power is neither. Difference between power and authority with comparison. With respect to political theory, a state is perceived as being legitimate when its citizens treat it as properly holding and exercising political power. What is the relationship between power, authority and. This article offers a critical overview of the major normative theories of political legitimacy from the seventeenth century to the present day, with a special focus on the leading representatives of the social contract tradition. It is the stated or unstated acceptance of unequal political relationships where some are given, assume, or inherit power over others. Basic concepts of political science isa ismail bayero university, kano.
Pdf this article theorizes authority from sociological and normative perspectives. Authority is often defined as legitimate power, and contrasted to pure power. Question discuss the relationship between power, authority. Coexistence of power and authority do pms exert power and authority e. Generally distinguished from power through the means by which compliance and obedience are achieved heywood authority is power cloaked in legitimacy. In their relation to power, authority and legitimacy are complexly intertwined. In political science, legitimacy is the right and acceptance of an authority, usually a governing.
Power can operate through persuasion, so that people cooperate willingly and freely, on the basis of reasons they. Importance of power, influence, authority and legitimacy. Taking max weber at his word by using resourcesexchange analysis norman uphoff cornell university power is a puzzling notion. Legitimacy question discuss the relationship between power, authority and legitimacy give the max weber contribution to the theory of power. Power, in the context of politics, can be defined as the ability to get others to do things even when they might not want to. What we should ultimately accept is that the power to command view of political legitimacy gives us a more plausible explanation of this idea than the currently dominant right to. Osullivan, n 2003, power, authority, legitimacy, in axtmann, r ed. Be aware of anthony giddenss conception of modernity have a critical understanding of the distinction that max weber made between authority and coercion have a critical understanding of the three types of legitimate rule outlined by max weber be familiar with the contribution of michel foucault.
Keep in mind these terms are subject to much debate in the academic community. If you have a hammer, you have the power to drive a nail. The following case studies demonstrate how constitutionmakers either garnered the support of or were undermined by extraconstitutional sources of legitimacy. Power and authority often go together, but are not synonyms. The normative concept of political legitimacy is often seen as related to the justification of authority. Some scholars have defined authority as some kind of power, for example formal power or rightful power. Legitimacy enables rulers to govern with a minimal. Max weber studied power and authority, differentiating between the two concepts and. Power of this kind is often said to be illegitimate. The difference between power and authority can be drawn clearly on the following grounds. Politics, power, and authority boundless sociology. According to locke, in the hypothetical state of nature that precedes the creation of human societies, men live equal one amongst another without subordination or subjection, and they are perfectly free to act and to dispose of their possessions as they see fit, within the bounds of natural law.
Both power and authority can be lost, and authority is especially easy to be taken away. Power is defined as the ability or potential of an individual to influence others and control their actions. While the term exists beyond the political realm, as it encompasses sociology, philosophy, and psychology, legitimacy is often referred to with respect to actors, institutions, and the political orders they constitute. The differences between power and authority in politics are. In the case of legit imate power, compliance is voluntary and based on a belief in. Relation between power, authority and legitimacy doon. Power is the ability to produce a change in the behaviour of others through the use of force or coercion or threat of use of force. He further states that what distinguishes authority, from coercion, force and power on the one hand and leadership, persuasion and influence on the other hand, is. Power, authority and legitimacy in organization studies weber is acclaimed for providing the foundation for much of the organization studies literature pertaining to power, rationality and legitimacy. Violence can be a tactic of powerful people, but using violence typically causes an authority figure to lose legitimacy.
At the same time, and considering that the democratic project has been mostly statecentered, both established and new democracies are suffering from the fact that the. Some people must have power over others weber perceive power into two type that is legitimate power and illegitimate power. Differences between power and authority difference between. Concepts of power, authority, legitimacy, responsibility and delegation. Doc authority, power and legitimacy nicholas mtetesha. In common political language, authority is often confused with legitimacy. Power is the ability to affect change or direct people or resources. Although power is a central feature of all politics, attempts to define its nature have reflected major differences of approach throughout western history. Alevel politics revision section looking at the theory of power, authority and legitimacy. State legitimacy and social order christopher morris. Normative legitimacy and the state oxford handbooks.
Investigating the role of legitimacy in the political order of conflicttorn spaces pdf. Power is an entity or individuals ability to control or direct others, while authority is influence that is predicated on perceived legitimacy. The word legitimacy can be interpreted in either a normative way or a positive see positivism way. Demonstration of power does not become necessary as long as legitimacy is attached to power.
Power and authority for every society development, it is inevitably for a society to encompassed a system of leadership. The first meaning refers to political philosophy and deals with questions such as. For example, the president of a corporation has certain powers because. What demarcates authority from power is that the former is power recognised as rightful. Authority is the recognised power legal right of the authority holder to direct and. Taking max weber at his word by using resourcesexchange analysis. Taking max weber at his word by using resourcesexchange analysis article pdf available in polity 222.
Hence, legitimacy and authority are intimately related and the former is successful only when it enjoys a high level of legitimacy, in a democratic political system, election is the process by which the power holders get their legitimate power i. According to french and raven, leaders have access to five distinct sources of power. Browns loss of authority leading up to 2010 election smaller majority compared to 9701. So we can conclude by saying that the authority will be transformed into power if it is not legitimatized. Importance of power, influence, authority and legitimacy in political science. Nigeria question the relationship between the concepts of power, authority.
Authority based on a perceived right to rule weber with a moral aspect. Concept of power, hegemony, ideology and legitimacy. We will consider the subject of authority in the next section of this introduction. It is critical to political order, stable peace and development. This source of power comes from a belief that the leader has the authority to make demands and can expect compliance from others. In short, if a society approves of the exercise of power in a particular way, then that.
Is power that people view as legitimately exercised over themalso called legitimate power bwhat kinds of authority are there. What is legitimacy and why does it matter for peace. Management, human resources, organization, control, leadership, etc. Thus they are always ready to follow the rule or decision. Authority is power clothed in the garments of legitimacy. Legitimate power is power you derive from your formal position or office held in the organizations hierarchy of authority. Legitimacy of a rule or a decision signifies the fact that people reckon the decision as fruitful and in welfare of the society. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. Legitimate authority power whose use is considered just and appropriate by those over whom the power is exercised. Taking max weber at his word by using resourcesexchange analysis norman uphoff polity, vol. Meet your pals power, authority, legitimacy, and sovereignty. Political legitimacy stanford encyclopedia of philosophy.
One of the most common sources of power is a position that gives one the right to give orders and expect them to be carried out. Political legitimacy a right to rule or a power to command. Concepts of power, authority, legitimacy, responsibility. Distinguish between power and authority as political concepts. Legitimacy, popular acceptance of a government, political regime, or system of governance. I shall conduct my analysis through the lens of max webers three sources of legitimacy. Remember that power is the ability to do something the specific way you want to do it by any means necessary. Leadership is painting a vision for others to follow.
Since ancient time, social theorists tried to define the queries that people who lack economic power consent to hierarchies of social and political power. Authority is being in a position to wield power in a lawful or authorized mann. Sociologists examine government and politics in terms of their impact on individuals and larger social systems. Authority is the legal and formal right to give orders and commands, and take decisions. John locke put forward such an interpretation of legitimacy. Relationship between authority and legitimacy in politics. Power can be exerted by the use of force or violence. Authority is the legitimate or socially approved use of power that a person or a group holds over another. In this lesson, students are introduced to these characteristics of government and consider how governments establish and maintain these foundational tenants. Its exercise is, therefore, sectioned by those who approve the particular act or agent and is tolerated by those who disapprove. The central questions in the sociology of politics are how is power exercised. It seems so useful as a way to talk about politics in ordinary discourse, but when used to analyze politics systematically it quickly becomes entangled in a snarl of.