topic 2

Power, Authority & Legitimacy

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Power, authority & legitimacy

introduction

power

Authority

Legitimacy

introductionInfluence is related with power, authority and legitimacyImportant elements in political science

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powerpower

definition

The Significance of Power

Sources of Power

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powerWithout power, it would be impossible for the government to maintain law and order to pursue policies for social, economic and political development of the country.

definition Max Weber: “Power as a tool for individual or a group of human to achieve their objectives even though their behaviors involves with violence or coercion.”

Karl Marx: “Political power as an instrument for elite groups to maintain their influence and using power to rule other group of people.”

Ramanathan: “Power is influence, absolute rights of individual as a ruler. Ability to settle problem, implement policy will influence the citizen’s loyalty.”

R. H. Tawney: “The capacity on an individual, or group of individuals, to modify the conduct of other individuals or groups in the manner in which he (the power holder) desires.” (A has power over B if A can get B to do something that B would not otherwise do)

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The Significance of Power There are 6 factors why the power is very important:i) Power is an instrument for individual

to achieve objectives or aims.ii) Power is the tool for the leader to

gain support from the people as to implement certain policy.

iii)Power can be considered as a guarantee for the leader to convince people.

iv)Power symbolizes strength and influence. Only those individual with freedom of power able to do whatever the want.

v) Power ensures the government administration run smoothly.

vi)Power ensures there is peace and surveillance in the country.

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Sources of PowerFrench and Raven (1959) identify five sources power that give rise to five types of power: i) Force: The Coercive Powerii) Wealth: The Reward Poweriii) Expertise: The Expert Poweriv) Position: The Legitimate Powerv) Popular Support: The Referent

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Force: The Coercive Power

Force is probably the most easily recognizable source of power. Extremely successful in making individuals do what one wants. The follower’s belief that the leader has the power to punish him for non-compliance.

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Wealth: The Reward PowerWealth is well recognized as an effective source of power and influence for those who possess it. Political sociology - ‘patron-clientelism’. This is known as reward power and it is based on the follower’s belief that the leader has resources – benefits that will help the follower in reaching his goals and meet his needs.

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Expertise: The Expert PowerExpertise has provided individuals with power and influence. “Knowledge is power”. Known as expert of information power, it is based on the follower’s belief that the leader possesses superior information and ability. Expertise is based on possession of information about the working of things. Thus expertise includes knowledge as well as skills derived from that knowledge.

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Position: The Legitimate PowerPosition in organization is one of the surest avenues to power. Known as legitimate power, it is based on the follower’s belief that the power-holder has a right to influence him and he has an obligation to follow.

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Popular Support: The Referent Power

Popular support minimizes the need to use coercive power or reward power to obtain compliance to the decision of the government. Known as referent power, it is based on the followers’identification with the leader.

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authority authority

definition

features of authority

how a leader gains authority

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authority Authority is closely associated with power: authority is formal or legal as distinguished from personal power.involved in the concept of authority: i) a position: authority is attached to

these positions. ii) roles: the set of patterned

expectations about behavior that the members of society attach to a position in an institution.

definition Rogow & Lasswell (1963) – Authority can be defined as the legitimate (conforming to establish rules and procedures) exercise of power. It is power assigned to a position by the popularly accepted ground rules for the operation of the political system.

A.R Ball: “Authority is the recognition of the rights to rule without limited power obtained by the leader.Roskin: “It refers to the leader’s ability to gain loyalty.”

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features of authorityAccording from Max Weber, there are three types or sources of authority: i) Traditional Authority ii) Charismatic Authority iii) Legal-rational Authority

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Traditional Authority

Based on ancient customs or traditionsor conventions. For example, Brunei Sultanate (the eldest will be the Sultan), Britain, Belgium, the Netherlands and Spain. Traditional authority is thus closely tied up with hereditary systems of power and privilege.

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Charismatic Authority

Refers to people’s following a leader because they believe that he or she has extraordinary personal qualitiesthat command their obedience. For example, political leaders like Mussolini, Hitler and Mao Zedong.

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Legal-rational Authority

Based upon acceptance of publicly articulated, society-wide rules and regulations issued by duly authorized public officials. Hold any positionaccording to the legal procedures. The emphasis is upon the “official processes” and the necessity of going through “proper channels” rather than governing according to the personal desire to leaders.

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how a leader gains authority Authority comes with the office or position one holds An official structure provides authority to a leader Authority is derived from ancient customs or traditions or conventionsAuthority is gained through the laws of the land Knowledge or expertise in a particular field

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legitimacy legitimacy definition

methods of achieving legitimacy

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legitimacy

Legitimacy means the right of king or queen towards the kingship because it is based on the legitimate birth or legitimate child from legitimate birth.Usually defined simply as ‘rightfulness’

definition

David Bentham proposed that power could only be said to be legitimate if 3 conditions are fulfilled: (a) Power must be exercised according to established rules (b) These rules must be justified in terms of the shared beliefs of the government and the governed (c)Legitimacy must be demonstrated by the expression of consent on the part of the governed.

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methods of achieving legitimacy

A government may achieve legitimacy by existing a long timeA government may also gain legitimacy by governing justly, fairly and well taking into consideration the welfare of all citizens

The structure of government can also contribute to its legitimacy A government can gain legitimacy by the manipulation of national symbols such as the national flag, historic monuments, national day parades and emotional speeches.

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