The Concepts of Power and Authority Essay

Many people use the words “authority” and “power” interchangeably. However, these words have some striking differences in their meanings. Political thinkers explain the concept of power using individuals who hold specific positions. The term “power” refers to a person’s ability to control other people’s thoughts, actions, beliefs, or ideas (Garner, Ferdinand, Lawson & Macdonald, 2012). The concept of power goes further to explain how individuals can realize their potentials or achieve a specific “end” (Garner et al., 2012). More often than not, power is what gives people the capability to influence others. An influential person will encourage others to carry out specific actions.

The concept of authority explains how a person can command or control a specific situation. Authority is usually the ability to make others do a person’s will. The concept of authority explains how certain people can enforce various orders or demand obedience from other people. Authority is the right to get things and ideas executed by other people. Those who have authority can make decisions and give orders accordingly (Garner et al., 2012). One thing about management is that it is closely related to power. However, the authority has “degrees.” This explains why certain people, such as dictators, have complete authority to execute whatever they wish. This is not the case for a “powerful” person.

From the discussion presented above, it is easier to apply these two concepts to specific individuals and institutions’ role. To begin with, the idea of authority is correctly applied to a Canadian Supreme Court Justice because the court can pass legislation and influence certain practices and laws in the country. The Supreme Court can command a specific situation or legislation. The country’s president might not be able to control or make a decision about particular legislation (Garner et al., 2012). The Supreme Court always passes legislation, thus reshaping the laws governing the country.

The concept of power can be used more appropriately to describe the role of the American president. The idea defines management as a position or office held by an individual. However, the concept of force is applied to the president’s roles because they lack the authority to execute or do anything they wish. The president will need to get the approval of the Senate or Congress before making individual decisions (De Crespigny & Vertheimer, 2012). This explains why the American president is powerful but lacks the authority to pass legislation or do whatever he or she wishes.

The concept of authority will apply appropriately to the role of a biker gang. It is the role of the gang leader to give orders and make decisions for the biker gang. More often, the leaders will enforce obedience and make the members of the team carry out their orders (Garner et al., 2012). Most of the biker gangs tend to have different leadership structures. However, a majority of these leaders have a sense of autonomy. Most of them have a “complete” command or control over their specific gangs. The above analysis clearly explains how people use the concepts of authority and power interchangeably, depending on the situation (De Crespigny & Vertheimer, 2012).

How the State Shapes the Culture of a Nation

It is agreeable that every nation has a unique culture. A nation’s culture is a set of customs, behaviors, practices, and beliefs existing in a specific sovereign country. The culture of a particular nation is evident in its societies. For instance, companies usually develop institutional or leadership practices in accordance with their cultural aspects. The state has a role in shaping the culture of its people. This will eventually contribute a lot to the national culture. The government (or the state) sets laws and legislations aimed at restraining men from interfering with each other (Blad, 2011). At the same time, the government encourages its people to embrace certain beliefs and cultural behaviors. The idea promotes the image of their nation. The state also dictates various policies, thus controlling the economic and social issues affecting the people.

For example, the United States encouraged its citizens to adhere to the idea of “radical individualism.” As well, the American government embraced the wave of capitalism, which helped reshape the values, beliefs, and cultural aspects of the country. This explains why the country’s culture has succeeded over the decades. The state uses legislation and governance strategies to shape the culture and traditions of its people (Wolff, 2006). The government also preserves various heritage centers and encourages its citizens to pursue individual goals and religious practices. Such practices are unique to the United States. This explains how different states have succeeded in reshaping an exceptional nation’s culture.

Reference List

Blad, C. (2011). Neo-liberalism and National Culture: State-Building and Legitimacy in Canada and Quebec. Leiden: Brill Publishers.

De Crespigny, A., & Vertheimer, A. (2012). Power, Authority, Justice, and Rights: Studies in Political Obligations. New York: Transaction Publishers.

Garner, R., Ferdinand, P., Lawson, S., & Macdonald, D. (2012). Introduction to Politics . Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Wolff, J. (2006). An Introduction to Political Philosophy. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

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Essay on Power And Authority

Students are often asked to write an essay on Power And Authority in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

Let’s take a look…

100 Words Essay on Power And Authority

Understanding power and authority.

Power and authority are big ideas that affect our lives every day. Power means having the ability to do something or control others. Authority is the right to give orders and make decisions. They are like two sides of a coin. When someone has power, they can influence others, while authority is when they are officially allowed to do so.

Types of Power

There are different kinds of power. Some people have power because they are strong or smart. Others have power because of their job, like teachers or police officers. Money can also give people power, as it can buy things and influence.

Authority in Everyday Life

Authority is seen in places like schools, where teachers have the authority to lead classes. In families, parents have authority over their children. Governments have authority over citizens, creating laws that people must follow to keep order in society.

Using Power and Authority

Power and authority should be used fairly. Leaders who have these should think about what is best for everyone, not just themselves. When used right, they can help make the world a better place. But if used wrongly, they can cause harm and unfairness.

250 Words Essay on Power And Authority

Power and authority are big ideas that help us understand who gets to make decisions and who must follow them. Imagine a school. The principal has the authority to run it, making rules that students and teachers follow. That’s because the principal is given this power by higher-ups in the education system.

Power can come in different forms. One kind is when someone can make others do things because they are strong or can offer rewards. For example, a big brother might have the power to decide what game to play because he’s older and stronger. Another kind is when people listen to someone because they respect their knowledge or skills, like a doctor giving health advice.

Authority Comes with Responsibility

When someone has authority, it means they are in charge of others and must look after them. It’s not just about telling people what to do; it’s also about making sure things go right. For instance, a bus driver has the authority to tell passengers to sit down, so everyone stays safe.

Using Power and Authority Well

It’s important for people with power and authority to use it in a good way. They should make fair rules and treat everyone equally. If they don’t, people might not listen to them anymore. Just like in a game, if the person in charge is unfair, players might stop playing.

To sum up, power and authority are about who gets to make the rules and why. They are important for keeping order, but they must be used with care and fairness.

500 Words Essay on Power And Authority

When we talk about power and authority, we’re discussing who is in charge and who makes the rules. Power is the ability to do something or control others, while authority is the right given to a person or group to use power. They are like two sides of the same coin and are very important in how groups of people, like countries or schools, are run.

Power can come from different places. One kind is physical power, like being strong enough to lift something heavy. Another kind is having knowledge, which means knowing lots of things that others don’t. There’s also social power, which means having lots of friends or followers who will listen to you. Money can give power too, because with it, you can buy things and influence people.

Authority and Its Sources

Authority is when people agree that someone should be in charge. This can happen in different ways. Sometimes, a person has authority because of their job, like a teacher in a classroom. Other times, it might be because of tradition, like a king or queen in a country. Laws and rules also give people authority, like when police officers are allowed to keep places safe.

People with power and authority have a big responsibility. They need to use it to help others and make fair decisions. If someone with authority uses their power in a bad way, like being mean to others or not following the rules themselves, it can cause a lot of problems. It’s important for those with power to listen to the people they’re in charge of and to use their power in a good way.

Power and Authority in Everyday Life

We see power and authority all around us. Parents have authority over their children, teachers over students, and bosses over workers. Even among friends, some may have more influence than others. It’s something that happens in families, schools, workplaces, and governments. Understanding how it works helps us know when to follow someone’s lead and when to speak up if power is being used unfairly.

Challenges With Power and Authority

Sometimes people disagree about who should have power and what they should do with it. This can lead to arguments or even fights. It’s important for everyone to talk about these issues and try to find solutions that are best for the group. In a classroom, this might mean voting for a class president. In a country, it means having elections where everyone gets to choose their leaders.

Power and authority are big ideas that affect how we live together. They can help keep things organized and safe, but they can also be used in the wrong way. By understanding what they are and how they should be used, we can all help make sure that our families, schools, and countries are fair and kind places for everyone. Remember, with great power comes great responsibility, and it’s up to all of us to use it wisely.

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  • 17.1 Power and Authority
  • Introduction
  • 1.1 What Is Sociology?
  • 1.2 The History of Sociology
  • 1.3 Theoretical Perspectives in Sociology
  • 1.4 Why Study Sociology?
  • Section Summary
  • Section Quiz
  • Short Answer
  • Further Research
  • 2.1 Approaches to Sociological Research
  • 2.2 Research Methods
  • 2.3 Ethical Concerns
  • 3.1 What Is Culture?
  • 3.2 Elements of Culture
  • 3.3 High, Low, Pop, Sub, Counter-culture and Cultural Change
  • 3.4 Theoretical Perspectives on Culture
  • 4.1 Types of Societies
  • 4.2 Theoretical Perspectives on Society
  • 4.3 Social Constructions of Reality
  • 5.1 Theories of Self-Development
  • 5.2 Why Socialization Matters
  • 5.3 Agents of Socialization
  • 5.4 Socialization Across the Life Course
  • 6.1 Types of Groups
  • 6.2 Group Size and Structure
  • 6.3 Formal Organizations
  • 7.1 Deviance and Control
  • 7.2 Theoretical Perspectives on Deviance and Crime
  • 7.3 Crime and the Law
  • 8.1 Technology Today
  • 8.2 Media and Technology in Society
  • 8.3 Global Implications of Media and Technology
  • 8.4 Theoretical Perspectives on Media and Technology
  • 9.1 What Is Social Stratification?
  • 9.2 Social Stratification and Mobility in the United States
  • 9.3 Global Stratification and Inequality
  • 9.4 Theoretical Perspectives on Social Stratification
  • 10.1 Global Stratification and Classification
  • 10.2 Global Wealth and Poverty
  • 10.3 Theoretical Perspectives on Global Stratification
  • 11.1 Racial, Ethnic, and Minority Groups
  • 11.2 Theoretical Perspectives on Race and Ethnicity
  • 11.3 Prejudice, Discrimination, and Racism
  • 11.4 Intergroup Relationships
  • 11.5 Race and Ethnicity in the United States
  • 12.1 Sex, Gender, Identity, and Expression
  • 12.2 Gender and Gender Inequality
  • 12.3 Sexuality
  • 13.1 Who Are the Elderly? Aging in Society
  • 13.2 The Process of Aging
  • 13.3 Challenges Facing the Elderly
  • 13.4 Theoretical Perspectives on Aging
  • 14.1 What Is Marriage? What Is a Family?
  • 14.2 Variations in Family Life
  • 14.3 Challenges Families Face
  • 15.1 The Sociological Approach to Religion
  • 15.2 World Religions
  • 15.3 Religion in the United States
  • 16.1 Education around the World
  • 16.2 Theoretical Perspectives on Education
  • 16.3 Issues in Education
  • 17.2 Forms of Government
  • 17.3 Politics in the United States
  • 17.4 Theoretical Perspectives on Government and Power
  • Introduction to Work and the Economy
  • 18.1 Economic Systems
  • 18.2 Globalization and the Economy
  • 18.3 Work in the United States
  • 19.1 The Social Construction of Health
  • 19.2 Global Health
  • 19.3 Health in the United States
  • 19.4 Comparative Health and Medicine
  • 19.5 Theoretical Perspectives on Health and Medicine
  • 20.1 Demography and Population
  • 20.2 Urbanization
  • 20.3 The Environment and Society
  • Introduction to Social Movements and Social Change
  • 21.1 Collective Behavior
  • 21.2 Social Movements
  • 21.3 Social Change

Learning Objectives

By the end of this section, you should be able to:

  • Define and differentiate between power and authority
  • Identify and describe the three types of authority

The world has almost 200 countries. Many of those countries have states or provinces with their own governments. In some countries such as the United States and Canada, Native Americans and First Nations have their own systems of government in some relationship with the federal government. Just considering those thousands of different entities, it's easy to see what differentiates governments. What about what they have in common? Do all of them serve the people? Protect the people? Increase prosperity?

The answer to those questions might be a matter of opinion, perspective, and circumstance. However, one reality seems clear: Something all governments have in common is that they exert control over the people they govern. The nature of that control—what we will define as power and authority—is an important feature of society.

Sociologists have a distinctive approach to studying governmental power and authority that differs from the perspective of political scientists. For the most part, political scientists focus on studying how power is distributed in different types of political systems. They would observe, for example, that the United States’ political system is divided into three distinct branches (legislative, executive, and judicial), and they would explore how public opinion affects political parties, elections, and the political process in general. Sociologists, however, tend to be more interested in the influences of governmental power on society and in how social conflicts arise from the distribution of power. Sociologists also examine how the use of power affects local, state, national, and global agendas, which in turn affect people differently based on status, class, and socioeconomic standing.

What Is Power?

For centuries, philosophers, politicians, and social scientists have explored and commented on the nature of power. Pittacus (c. 640–568 B.C.E.) opined, “The measure of a man is what he does with power,” and Lord Acton perhaps more famously asserted, “Power tends to corrupt; absolute power corrupts absolutely” (1887). Indeed, the concept of power can have decidedly negative connotations, and the term itself is difficult to define.

Many scholars adopt the definition developed by German sociologist Max Weber, who said that power is the ability to exercise one’s will over others (Weber 1922). Power affects more than personal relationships; it shapes larger dynamics like social groups, professional organizations, and governments. Similarly, a government’s power is not necessarily limited to control of its own citizens. A dominant nation, for instance, will often use its clout to influence or support other governments or to seize control of other nation states. Efforts by the U.S. government to wield power in other countries have included joining with other nations to form the Allied forces during World War II, entering Iraq in 2002 to topple Saddam Hussein’s regime, and imposing sanctions on the government of North Korea in the hopes of constraining its development of nuclear weapons.

Endeavors to gain power and influence do not necessarily lead to violence, exploitation, or abuse. Leaders such as Martin Luther King Jr. and Mohandas Gandhi, for example, commanded powerful movements that effected positive change without military force. Both men organized nonviolent protests to combat corruption and injustice and succeeded in inspiring major reform. They relied on a variety of nonviolent protest strategies, such as rallies, sit-ins, marches, petitions, and boycotts.

Modern technology has made such forms of nonviolent reform easier to implement. Often, protesters can use cell phones and the Internet to disseminate information and plans to masses of protesters in a rapid and efficient manner. Some governments like Myanmar, China, and Russia tamp down communication and protest through platform bans or Internet blocks (see the Media and Technology chapter for more information). But in the Arab Spring uprisings of 2010-11, for example, Twitter feeds and other social media helped protesters coordinate their movements, share ideas, and bolster morale, as well as gain global support for their causes. Social media was also important in getting accurate accounts of the demonstrations out to the world, in contrast to many earlier situations in which government control of the media censored news reports. Notice that in these examples, the users of power were the citizens rather than the governments. They found they had power because they were able to exercise their will over their own leaders. Thus, government power does not necessarily equate to absolute power.

Big Picture

Social media as a terrorist tool.

British aid worker, Alan Henning, was the fourth victim of the Islamic State (known as ISIS or ISIL) to be beheaded before video cameras in a recording titled, “Another Message to America and Its Allies,” which was posted on YouTube and pro-Islamic state Twitter feeds in the fall of 2014. Henning was captured during his participation in a convoy taking medical supplies to a hospital in conflict-ravaged northern Syria. His death was publicized via social media, as were the earlier beheadings of U.S. journalists Jim Foley and Steven Sotloff and British aid worker David Haines. The terrorist groups also used social media to demand an end to intervention in the Middle East by U.S., British, French, and Arab forces.

An international coalition, led by the United States, has been formed to combat ISIS in response to this series of publicized murders. France and the United Kingdom, members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), and Belgium are seeking government approval through their respective parliaments to participate in airstrikes. The specifics of target locations are a key point, however, and they emphasize the delicate and political nature of current conflict in the region. Due to perceived national interest and geopolitical dynamics, Britain and France are more willing to be a part of airstrikes on ISIS targets in Iran and likely to avoid striking targets in Syria. Several Arab nations are a part of the coalition, including Bahrain, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates. Turkey, another NATO member, has not announced involvement in airstrikes, presumably because ISIS is holding forty-nine Turkish citizens hostage.

U.S. intervention in Libya and Syria is controversial, and it arouses debate about the role of the United States in world affairs, as well as the practical need for, and outcome of, military action in the Middle East. Experts and the U.S. public alike are weighing the need for fighting terrorism in its current form of the Islamic State and the bigger issue of helping to restore peace in the Middle East. Some consider ISIS a direct and growing threat to the United States if left unchecked. Others believe U.S. intervention unnecessarily worsens the Middle East situation and prefer that resources be used at home rather than increasing military involvement in an area of the world where they believe the United States has intervened long enough.

Types of Authority

The protesters in Tunisia and the civil rights protesters of Martin Luther King, Jr.’s day had influence apart from their position in a government. Their influence came, in part, from their ability to advocate for what many people held as important values. Government leaders might have this kind of influence as well, but they also have the advantage of wielding power associated with their position in the government. As this example indicates, there is more than one type of authority in a community.

Authority refers to accepted power—that is, power that people agree to follow. People listen to authority figures because they feel that these individuals are worthy of respect. Generally speaking, people perceive the objectives and demands of an authority figure as reasonable and beneficial, or true.

Not all authority figures are police officers, elected officials or government authorities. Besides formal offices, authority can arise from tradition and personal qualities. Economist and sociologist Max Weber realized this when he examined individual action as it relates to authority, as well as large-scale structures of authority and how they relate to a society’s economy. Based on this work, Weber developed a classification system for authority. His three types of authority are traditional authority, charismatic authority and legal-rational authority (Weber 1922).

Traditional Authority

According to Weber, the power of traditional authority is accepted because that has traditionally been the case; its legitimacy exists because it has been accepted for a long time. Britain’s Queen Elizabeth, for instance, occupies a position that she inherited based on the traditional rules of succession for the monarchy. People adhere to traditional authority because they are invested in the past and feel obligated to perpetuate it. In this type of authority, a ruler typically has no real force to carry out his will or maintain his position but depends primarily on a group’s respect.

A more modern form of traditional authority is patrimonialism , which is traditional domination facilitated by an administration and military that are purely personal instruments of the master (Eisenberg 1998). In this form of authority, all officials are personal favorites appointed by the ruler. These officials have no rights, and their privileges can be increased or withdrawn based on the caprices of the leader. The political organization of ancient Egypt typified such a system: when the royal household decreed that a pyramid be built, every Egyptian was forced to work toward its construction.

Traditional authority can be intertwined with race, class, and gender. In most societies, for instance, men are more likely to be privileged than women and thus are more likely to hold roles of authority. Similarly, members of dominant racial groups or upper-class families also win respect more readily. In the United States, the Kennedy family, which has produced many prominent politicians, exemplifies this model.

Charismatic Authority

Followers accept the power of charismatic authority because they are drawn to the leader’s personal qualities. The appeal of a charismatic leader can be extraordinary, and can inspire followers to make unusual sacrifices or to persevere in the midst of great hardship and persecution. Charismatic leaders usually emerge in times of crisis and offer innovative or radical solutions. They may even offer a vision of a new world order. Hitler’s rise to power in the postwar economic depression of Germany is an example.

Charismatic leaders tend to hold power for short durations, and according to Weber, they are just as likely to be tyrannical as they are heroic. Diverse male leaders such as Hitler, Napoleon, Jesus Christ, César Chávez, Malcolm X, and Winston Churchill are all considered charismatic leaders. Because so few women have held dynamic positions of leadership throughout history, the list of charismatic female leaders is comparatively short. Many historians consider figures such as Joan of Arc, Margaret Thatcher, and Mother Teresa to be charismatic leaders.

Rational-Legal Authority

According to Weber, power made legitimate by laws, written rules, and regulations is termed rational-legal authority . In this type of authority, power is vested in a particular rationale, system, or ideology and not necessarily in the person who implements the specifics of that doctrine. A nation that follows a constitution applies this type of authority. On a smaller scale, you might encounter rational-legal authority in the workplace via the standards set forth in the employee handbook, which provides a different type of authority than that of your boss.

Of course, ideals are seldom replicated in the real world. Few governments or leaders can be neatly categorized. Some leaders, like Mohandas Gandhi for instance, can be considered charismatic and legal-rational authority figures. Similarly, a leader or government can start out exemplifying one type of authority and gradually evolve or change into another type.

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What is power?

What is authority, 6 differences between power and authority, power vs. authority in the workplace, understand power vs. authority to become a better leader.

Power and authority. These two terms carry a lot of weight, especially in the workplace.

Most people might think of these two forms of influence  as the same, especially regarding authority vs. power in management.

Although it appears that there’s a fine line between them, they are different in many ways.

For those in a leadership position, it’s crucial to understand how their methods of influence  impact others.

An effective leader  understands how to use a combination of both power and authority to achieve team goals . How leaders use their control  can determine the success or failures of their teams.

Let’s take a look at the difference between power vs. authority and how they develop in the workplace.

Power is a person’s capacity or ability to exert their will over someone else.

Every employee, including managers , exerts a form of power in their places of work. Different types of power  are useful in different situations.

An example of the exertion of power at work would be a manager insisting that his team adopt a particular work style he prefers. He does this even though they may prefer to use a different creative style .

two-businessmen-in-meeting-power-vs-authority

Power can be earned through an educational background or by gaining experience  in the field. Or it may be bestowed upon an employee by a company’s management, executives, owners, or shareholders.

How someone chooses to use their power at work depends on their personality  and position. This work situation will guide the appropriate way for each person to exercise their power.

For example, an employee might try to exercise a type of power that isn’t appropriate for the situation or for their role . As a result, their colleagues may not be receptive to their commands. If a manager or executive were to issue the same request in an appropriate situation, they might be willing to comply.

Authority is the formal and often legal right that a person holds to make decisions and give commands to others.

Economist and sociologist Max Weber  identified three types of authority. These are traditional authority, charismatic authority (not to be confused with charismatic  leadership ), and legal-rational authority.

In the workplace, authority gives someone the power to enact organizational changes  to a workplace. High executives, owners, and officials tend to have authority in order to achieve a business’s key objectives .

authoritative-businesswoman-working-at-desk-power-vs-authority

Authority is often tied to the hierarchy of a company . Authority flows downward, with commands delegated from manager and leaders  to direct reports. An official cannot perform their duties without permission granted from a higher authority.

Authority is usually exercised to get a task done through another party. An example would be a team manager  requesting that an employee complete a report by a specific deadline. Upper management specifies this deadline.

The concept of authority is based on designation. It is restricted only to the organization, making it more legitimate and persuasive than power.

For example, a manager needs authority. It makes their position real and quantifiable, and gives them the power to designate tasks to their direct reports. Whenever there is a chain of business relations in a company, it is authority that binds them and provides a framework for responsibility.  

Authority itself can be delegated. In fact, delegation of authority  is an important skill for leaders to have. It empowers team members  to do the work they are best suited to.

Here are the key differences between power and authority in the workplace. We’ve also provided power and authority examples for context.

Power is the capacity of a person to influence others and alter their actions, beliefs, and behaviors. However, it’s important to note that there is a difference between power vs. influence .

Authority is the legitimate power that a person or group is granted to practice over others within an organization.

The source of power depends on the type of power.

Some people see power as something they receive from an external source. This could be an assigned title or position that gives someone control. For example, a police officer would have legitimate power. His power comes from his position.

Some people see power as a personal trait that is derived from status, charisma , and even financial and social standing. It is an acquired ability that often stems from superior knowledge and expertise.

In this case, power is the self-granted right to control the decisions and actions of others.

Position and office determine a person’s authority in a specific situation. Authority is attached to a position it is conferred to. This means that whichever person holds the position is also granted the authority attached to it. The higher that person’s ranking or position, the higher their authority will be.

3. Hierarchy

The hierarchy of power vs. authority is very different.

Power does not follow a specific hierarchy. It can instead flow in any direction. This could be from superior to subordinate, subordinate to superior, or junior to senior. Or it could be between people working on similar levels but different departments.

female-manager-using-power-vs-authority

Power is not confined by any boundaries. And, it is usually complicated by an element of politics in the workplace.

In contrast, authority is hierarchical in nature. It always flows downward. An authoritative superior can delegate authority to a subordinate or junior employee.

4. Ability to be lost

You can lose both power and authority. But power is easier to lose than authority.

Power is lost quickly through mistakes, as well as poor actions and behaviors. However, it’s important to note that people often become more powerful the longer they work in a given industry.

Because power is built on expertise and experience, a person who makes repeated mistakes in business can lose their credibility — even if they were very powerful before.

Authority is more technical and static in nature. It’s only lost when a person in a position of authority loses the position associated with the authority.

An organization can take authority away from someone by removing them from their positions. Or by removing responsibilities from that position that formerly gave them a certain amount of authority.

Take an example of a company manager  during a department restructuring. They might move into a new position with similar pay but with less authority.

5. Formality

Power is more informal. It may be obtained through illegitimate or informal means, such as nepotism and corruption or organizational networks.

Authority, on the other hand, is both legitimate and formal. It needs to be granted by a person or entity in a superior position and can get revoked under specified circumstances or misuses.

6. Legitimacy

People can acquire power through illegitimate means. Power may also be abused. Because of this, it tends to have less legitimacy than authority. This is particularly true in a workplace setting.

Employees are generally more likely to respect a superior’s authority than power exerted from someone of the same rank. The legality behind authority also provides added legitimacy in some cases.

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There are many different leadership and management styles  in the workplace. Each strikes a different balance between authority and power.

These are the most common leadership styles. Let's look at how they depend on power and authority to keep teams motivated  and productive .

1. Autocratic leadership style

The autocratic leader manages their team through control and a clearly defined direction. Autocratic managers usually assert strong authority and have full decision-making power . They expect unquestioning compliance and obedience from their subordinates.

This style demands clearly defined roles, strict hierarchies, and even stricter reporting protocols. Staff should never have to ask who is responsible for which task.

autocratic-leadership-style-power-vs-authority

An effective autocratic leader stays up to date on their team’s work. They make all decisions  related to the outcomes of the team.

Autocratic leadership has both advantages and disadvantages. This is especially true considering only 22% of tea ms believe their leaders have any clear direction  for their company.

An example of an autocratic leader is Microsoft CEO Bill Gates . He has a clear direction for his company and directed his team toward it by wholly maintaining his company’s decision-making powers.

2. Visionary leadership style

This management style is also called strategic , transformational, or inspirational management. Visionary managers focus their efforts on conveying the general vision and mission of their company , project, or department to their team and direct reports.

Visionary managers hold a certain amount of authority. But they don’t exert power over their teams by involving themselves in everyday details.

Instead, they motivate  and align their teams to allow everyone to move in the same direction. They trust their team members  to handle the finer details.

This management style requires:

  • A high degree of emotional intelligence
  • Comfort with taking risks
  • Change management  abilities

Warren Buffett  is an example of a visionary leader who has made millions with his relaxed but informed approach to business.

3. Consultative leadership style

The consultative leader bases their leadership strategies on input from their team. This highlights the difference between power and authority.

While they have the authority to make final decisions, they waive power in favor of listening to each team member’s viewpoints . Then, they make a decision in line with these opinions.

This form of leadership tends to arise when a leader is unfamiliar with every aspect of a situation. They ask for the views of the team on the ground in order to make an informed decision.

An example would be in a chemical processing business where the subordinates are scientific experts who know more about the handling of products than their managers.

Leaders may also choose this leadership style if they are humble enough to consider all of the views of their team members before making a final decision. This willingness to take other opinions into account can often lead to far better, more sustainable decisions.

The main challenge with consultative leadership is that it takes more time than a directive approach. Plus, it relies on team members’ varying degrees of knowledge and experience.

4. Participative leadership style

Participative leaders involve themselves completely in their team. They act as a member instead of a superior.

Participative leaders discuss all possible decisions with their team before making them. They seek consensus and opinions to make choices that reflect the entire team’s values.

manager-participating-with-team-power-vs-authority

Participative leaders hold the authority to make final decisions on behalf of the team. But they choose not to exercise any power over their subordinates. Instead, they integrate themselves into the team as a member just like any other.

In this leadership style, the entire team takes ownership of final decisions. This creates a high degree of accountability .

CEO of Toyota Motor North America Jim Lentz  is an excellent example of a participative leader. He actively guides his team through challenges and failures to address problems  and minimize damages.

The difference between power and authority lies in their legitimacy, source, and ability to be lost or enforced.

Using authority vs. power in management is a balancing act. Effective leaders need to use their authority wisely without exerting too much power over their team members.

Good leaders should take their team’s ideas into account. And they should make key decisions that reflect their whole organization, rather than their sole opinions and motives.

Contact BetterUp to learn more about key management styles. Discover how our personalized coaching services  can optimize your management approach. Our coaches can help you create a more productive and empowered team dynamic.

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Elizabeth Perry

Content Marketing Manager, ACC

How using different types of authority affects leadership

Delegation for the win 6 steps to empower and get more done, building influence without authority: be the change you want to see, in manager vs. supervisor, find out which differences matter, power versus influence: how to build a legacy of leadership, best leadership books: 29 of the most impactful reads, the 5 types of power effective leaders use, expert power: how to use it for good (not evil) in a changing world, using legitimate power the responsibility behind your role, similar articles, what is power and how does it affect workplace dynamics, it depends. understanding the contingency theory of leadership, is being ego driven damaging your career being purpose-driven is better, boss versus leader: develop the skills to bring out the best of both, when managing direct reports, inclusive leadership matters, coaching versus managing: what's the difference, stay connected with betterup, get our newsletter, event invites, plus product insights and research..

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14.1 Power and Authority

Learning objectives.

  • Define power and the three types of authority.
  • List Weber’s three types of authority.
  • Explain why charismatic authority may be unstable in the long run.

Politics refers to the distribution and exercise of power within a society, and polity refers to the political institution through which power is distributed and exercised. In any society, decisions must be made regarding the allocation of resources and other matters. Except perhaps in the simplest societies, specific people and often specific organizations make these decisions. Depending on the society, they sometimes make these decisions solely to benefit themselves and other times make these decisions to benefit the society as a whole. Regardless of who benefits, a central point is this: some individuals and groups have more power than others. Because power is so essential to an understanding of politics, we begin our discussion of politics with a discussion of power.

Power refers to the ability to have one’s will carried out despite the resistance of others. Most of us have seen a striking example of raw power when we are driving a car and see a police car in our rearview mirror. At that particular moment, the driver of that car has enormous power over us. We make sure we strictly obey the speed limit and all other driving rules. If, alas, the police car’s lights are flashing, we stop the car, as otherwise we may be in for even bigger trouble. When the officer approaches our car, we ordinarily try to be as polite as possible and pray we do not get a ticket. When you were 16 and your parents told you to be home by midnight or else, your arrival home by this curfew again illustrated the use of power, in this case parental power. If a child in middle school gives her lunch to a bully who threatens her, that again is an example of the use of power, or, in this case, the misuse of power.

These are all vivid examples of power, but the power that social scientists study is both grander and, often, more invisible (Wrong, 1996). Much of it occurs behind the scenes, and scholars continue to debate who is wielding it and for whose benefit they wield it. Many years ago Max Weber (1921/1978), one of the founders of sociology discussed in earlier chapters, distinguished legitimate authority as a special type of power. Legitimate authority (sometimes just called authority ), Weber said, is power whose use is considered just and appropriate by those over whom the power is exercised. In short, if a society approves of the exercise of power in a particular way, then that power is also legitimate authority. The example of the police car in our rearview mirrors is an example of legitimate authority.

Weber’s keen insight lay in distinguishing different types of legitimate authority that characterize different types of societies, especially as they evolve from simple to more complex societies. He called these three types traditional authority, rational-legal authority, and charismatic authority. We turn to these now.

Traditional Authority

As the name implies, traditional authority is power that is rooted in traditional, or long-standing, beliefs and practices of a society. It exists and is assigned to particular individuals because of that society’s customs and traditions. Individuals enjoy traditional authority for at least one of two reasons. The first is inheritance, as certain individuals are granted traditional authority because they are the children or other relatives of people who already exercise traditional authority. The second reason individuals enjoy traditional authority is more religious: their societies believe they are anointed by God or the gods, depending on the society’s religious beliefs, to lead their society. Traditional authority is common in many preindustrial societies, where tradition and custom are so important, but also in more modern monarchies (discussed shortly), where a king, queen, or prince enjoys power because she or he comes from a royal family.

Traditional authority is granted to individuals regardless of their qualifications. They do not have to possess any special skills to receive and wield their authority, as their claim to it is based solely on their bloodline or supposed divine designation. An individual granted traditional authority can be intelligent or stupid, fair or arbitrary, and exciting or boring but receives the authority just the same because of custom and tradition. As not all individuals granted traditional authority are particularly well qualified to use it, societies governed by traditional authority sometimes find that individuals bestowed it are not always up to the job.

Rational-Legal Authority

If traditional authority derives from custom and tradition, rational-legal authority derives from law and is based on a belief in the legitimacy of a society’s laws and rules and in the right of leaders to act under these rules to make decisions and set policy. This form of authority is a hallmark of modern democracies, where power is given to people elected by voters, and the rules for wielding that power are usually set forth in a constitution, a charter, or another written document. Whereas traditional authority resides in an individual because of inheritance or divine designation, rational-legal authority resides in the office that an individual fills, not in the individual per se. The authority of the president of the United States thus resides in the office of the presidency, not in the individual who happens to be president. When that individual leaves office, authority transfers to the next president. This transfer is usually smooth and stable, and one of the marvels of democracy is that officeholders are replaced in elections without revolutions having to be necessary. We might not have voted for the person who wins the presidency, but we accept that person’s authority as our president when he (so far it has always been a “he”) assumes office.

Rational-legal authority helps ensure an orderly transfer of power in a time of crisis. When John F. Kennedy was assassinated in 1963, Vice President Lyndon Johnson was immediately sworn in as the next president. When Richard Nixon resigned his office in disgrace in 1974 because of his involvement in the Watergate scandal, Vice President Gerald Ford (who himself had become vice president after Spiro Agnew resigned because of financial corruption) became president. Because the U.S. Constitution provided for the transfer of power when the presidency was vacant, and because U.S. leaders and members of the public accept the authority of the Constitution on these and so many other matters, the transfer of power in 1963 and 1974 was smooth and orderly.

Charismatic Authority

Charismatic authority stems from an individual’s extraordinary personal qualities and from that individual’s hold over followers because of these qualities. Such charismatic individuals may exercise authority over a whole society or only a specific group within a larger society. They can exercise authority for good and for bad, as this brief list of charismatic leaders indicates: Joan of Arc, Adolf Hitler, Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King Jr., Jesus Christ, Muhammad, and Buddha. Each of these individuals had extraordinary personal qualities that led their followers to admire them and to follow their orders or requests for action.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Much of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s appeal as a civil rights leader stemmed from his extraordinary speaking skills and other personal qualities that accounted for his charismatic authority.

U.S. Library of Congress – public domain.

Charismatic authority can reside in a person who came to a position of leadership because of traditional or rational-legal authority. Over the centuries, several kings and queens of England and other European nations were charismatic individuals as well (while some were far from charismatic). A few U.S. presidents—Washington, Lincoln, both Roosevelts, Kennedy, Reagan, and, for all his faults, even Clinton—also were charismatic, and much of their popularity stemmed from various personal qualities that attracted the public and sometimes even the press. Ronald Reagan, for example, was often called “the Teflon president,” because he was so loved by much of the public that accusations of ineptitude or malfeasance did not stick to him (Lanoue, 1988).

Weber emphasized that charismatic authority in its pure form (i.e., when authority resides in someone solely because of the person’s charisma and not because the person also has traditional or rational-legal authority) is less stable than traditional authority or rational-legal authority. The reason for this is simple: once charismatic leaders die, their authority dies as well. Although a charismatic leader’s example may continue to inspire people long after the leader dies, it is difficult for another leader to come along and command people’s devotion as intensely. After the deaths of all the charismatic leaders named in the preceding paragraph, no one came close to replacing them in the hearts and minds of their followers.

Because charismatic leaders recognize that their eventual death may well undermine the nation or cause they represent, they often designate a replacement leader, who they hope will also have charismatic qualities. This new leader may be a grown child of the charismatic leader or someone else the leader knows and trusts. The danger, of course, is that any new leaders will lack sufficient charisma to have their authority accepted by the followers of the original charismatic leader. For this reason, Weber recognized that charismatic authority ultimately becomes more stable when it is evolves into traditional or rational-legal authority. Transformation into traditional authority can happen when charismatic leaders’ authority becomes accepted as residing in their bloodlines, so that their authority passes to their children and then to their grandchildren. Transformation into rational-legal authority occurs when a society ruled by a charismatic leader develops the rules and bureaucratic structures that we associate with a government. Weber used the term routinization of charisma to refer to the transformation of charismatic authority in either of these ways.

Key Takeaways

  • Power refers to the ability to have one’s will carried out despite the resistance of others.
  • According to Max Weber, the three types of legitimate authority are traditional, rational-legal, and charismatic.
  • Charismatic authority is relatively unstable because the authority held by a charismatic leader may not easily extend to anyone else after the leader dies.

For Your Review

  • Think of someone, either a person you have known or a national or historical figure, whom you regard as a charismatic leader. What is it about this person that makes her or him charismatic?
  • Why is rational-legal authority generally more stable than charismatic authority?

Lanoue, D. J. (1988). From Camelot to the teflon president: Economics and presidential popularaity since 1960. New York, NY: Greenwood Press.

Weber, M. (1978). Economy and society: An outline of interpretive sociology (G. Roth & C. Wittich, Eds.). Berkeley: University of California Press. (Original work published 1921).

Wrong, D. H. (1996). Power: Its forms, bases, and uses . New Brunswick, NJ: Transaction.

Sociology Copyright © 2016 by University of Minnesota is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License , except where otherwise noted.

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Government and Politics

74 Power and Authority

Learning objectives.

  • Define and differentiate between power and authority
  • Identify and describe the three types of authority

The White House and the fountains and gardens in front of it are shown.

Despite the differences between government systems in the Middle East and the United States, their governments play the same fundamental role: in some fashion, they exert control over the people they govern. The nature of that control—what we will define as power and authority—is an important feature of society.

Sociologists have a distinctive approach to studying governmental power and authority that differs from the perspective of political scientists. For the most part, political scientists focus on studying how power is distributed in different types of political systems. They would observe, for example, that the United States’ political system is divided into three distinct branches (legislative, executive, and judicial), and they would explore how public opinion affects political parties, elections, and the political process in general. Sociologists, however, tend to be more interested in the influences of governmental power on society and in how social conflicts arise from the distribution of power. Sociologists also examine how the use of power affects local, state, national, and global agendas, which in turn affect people differently based on status, class, and socioeconomic standing.

What Is Power?

Adolf Hitler and Benito Mussolini are show riding together in a car.

For centuries, philosophers, politicians, and social scientists have explored and commented on the nature of power. Pittacus (c. 640–568 B.C.E.) opined, “The measure of a man is what he does with power,” and Lord Acton perhaps more famously asserted, “Power tends to corrupt; absolute power corrupts absolutely” (1887). Indeed, the concept of power can have decidedly negative connotations, and the term itself is difficult to define.

Many scholars adopt the definition developed by German sociologist Max Weber, who said that power is the ability to exercise one’s will over others (Weber 1922). Power affects more than personal relationships; it shapes larger dynamics like social groups, professional organizations, and governments. Similarly, a government’s power is not necessarily limited to control of its own citizens. A dominant nation, for instance, will often use its clout to influence or support other governments or to seize control of other nation states. Efforts by the U.S. government to wield power in other countries have included joining with other nations to form the Allied forces during World War II, entering Iraq in 2002 to topple Saddam Hussein’s regime, and imposing sanctions on the government of North Korea in the hopes of constraining its development of nuclear weapons.

Endeavors to gain power and influence do not necessarily lead to violence, exploitation, or abuse. Leaders such as Martin Luther King Jr. and Mohandas Gandhi, for example, commanded powerful movements that effected positive change without military force. Both men organized nonviolent protests to combat corruption and injustice and succeeded in inspiring major reform. They relied on a variety of nonviolent protest strategies such as rallies, sit-ins, marches, petitions, and boycotts.

Modern technology has made such forms of nonviolent reform easier to implement. Today, protesters can use cell phones and the Internet to disseminate information and plans to masses of protesters in a rapid and efficient manner. In the Arab Spring uprisings, for example, Twitter feeds and other social media helped protesters coordinate their movements, share ideas, and bolster morale, as well as gain global support for their causes. Social media was also important in getting accurate accounts of the demonstrations out to the world, in contrast to many earlier situations in which government control of the media censored news reports. Notice that in these examples, the users of power were the citizens rather than the governments. They found they had power because they were able to exercise their will over their own leaders. Thus, government power does not necessarily equate to absolute power.

A large group of people marching in protest.

British aid worker, Alan Henning, was the fourth victim of the Islamic State (known as ISIS or ISIL) to be beheaded before video cameras in a recording titled, “Another Message to America and Its Allies,” which was posted on YouTube and pro-Islamic state Twitter feeds in the fall of 2014. Henning was captured during his participation in a convoy taking medical supplies to a hospital in conflict-ravaged northern Syria. His death was publicized via social media, as were the earlier beheadings of U.S. journalists Jim Foley and Steven Sotloff and British aid worker David Haines. The terrorist groups also used social media to demand an end to intervention in the Middle East by U.S., British, French, and Arab forces.

An international coalition, led by the United States, has been formed to combat ISIS in response to this series of publicized murders. France and the United Kingdom, members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), and Belgium are seeking government approval through their respective parliaments to participate in airstrikes. The specifics of target locations are a key point, however, and they emphasize the delicate and political nature of current conflict in the region. Due to perceived national interest and geopolitical dynamics, Britain and France are more willing to be a part of airstrikes on ISIS targets in Iran and likely to avoid striking targets in Syria. Several Arab nations are a part of the coalition, including Bahrain, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates. Turkey, another NATO member, has not announced involvement in airstrikes, presumably because ISIS is holding forty-nine Turkish citizens hostage.

U.S. intervention in Libya and Syria is controversial, and it arouses debate about the role of the United States in world affairs, as well as the practical need for, and outcome of, military action in the Middle East. Experts and the U.S. public alike are weighing the need for fighting terrorism in its current form of the Islamic State and the bigger issue of helping to restore peace in the Middle East. Some consider ISIS a direct and growing threat to the United States if left unchecked. Others believe U.S. intervention unnecessarily worsens the Middle East situation and prefer that resources be used at home rather than increasing military involvement in an area of the world where they believe the United States has intervened long enough.

Types of Authority

The protesters in Tunisia and the civil rights protesters of Martin Luther King, Jr.’s day had influence apart from their position in a government. Their influence came, in part, from their ability to advocate for what many people held as important values. Government leaders might have this kind of influence as well, but they also have the advantage of wielding power associated with their position in the government. As this example indicates, there is more than one type of authority in a community.

Authority refers to accepted power—that is, power that people agree to follow. People listen to authority figures because they feel that these individuals are worthy of respect. Generally speaking, people perceive the objectives and demands of an authority figure as reasonable and beneficial, or true.

A citizen’s interaction with a police officer is a good example of how people react to authority in everyday life. For instance, a person who sees the flashing red and blue lights of a police car in his rearview mirror usually pulls to the side of the road without hesitation. Such a driver most likely assumes that the police officer behind him serves as a legitimate source of authority and has the right to pull him over. As part of her official duties, the police officer then has the power to issue a speeding ticket if the driver was driving too fast. If the same officer, however, were to command the driver to follow her home and mow her lawn, the driver would likely protest that the officer does not have the authority to make such a request.

Not all authority figures are police officers, elected officials or government authorities. Besides formal offices, authority can arise from tradition and personal qualities. Economist and sociologist Max Weber realized this when he examined individual action as it relates to authority, as well as large-scale structures of authority and how they relate to a society’s economy. Based on this work, Weber developed a classification system for authority. His three types of authority are traditional authority, charismatic authority and legal-rational authority (Weber 1922).

Traditional Authority

According to Weber, the power of traditional authority is accepted because that has traditionally been the case; its legitimacy exists because it has been accepted for a long time. Britain’s Queen Elizabeth, for instance, occupies a position that she inherited based on the traditional rules of succession for the monarchy. People adhere to traditional authority because they are invested in the past and feel obligated to perpetuate it. In this type of authority, a ruler typically has no real force to carry out his will or maintain his position but depends primarily on a group’s respect.

A more modern form of traditional authority is patrimonialism , which is traditional domination facilitated by an administration and military that are purely personal instruments of the master (Eisenberg 1998). In this form of authority, all officials are personal favorites appointed by the ruler. These officials have no rights, and their privileges can be increased or withdrawn based on the caprices of the leader. The political organization of ancient Egypt typified such a system: when the royal household decreed that a pyramid be built, every Egyptian was forced to work toward its construction.

Traditional authority can be intertwined with race, class, and gender. In most societies, for instance, men are more likely to be privileged than women and thus are more likely to hold roles of authority. Similarly, members of dominant racial groups or upper-class families also win respect more readily. In the United States, the Kennedy family, which has produced many prominent politicians, exemplifies this model.

Charismatic Authority

Followers accept the power of charismatic authority because they are drawn to the leader’s personal qualities. The appeal of a charismatic leader can be extraordinary, and can inspire followers to make unusual sacrifices or to persevere in the midst of great hardship and persecution. Charismatic leaders usually emerge in times of crisis and offer innovative or radical solutions. They may even offer a vision of a new world order. Hitler’s rise to power in the postwar economic depression of Germany is an example.

Charismatic leaders tend to hold power for short durations, and according to Weber, they are just as likely to be tyrannical as they are heroic. Diverse male leaders such as Hitler, Napoleon, Jesus Christ, César Chávez, Malcolm X, and Winston Churchill are all considered charismatic leaders. Because so few women have held dynamic positions of leadership throughout history, the list of charismatic female leaders is comparatively short. Many historians consider figures such as Joan of Arc, Margaret Thatcher, and Mother Teresa to be charismatic leaders.

Rational-Legal Authority

According to Weber, power made legitimate by laws, written rules, and regulations is termed rational-legal authority . In this type of authority, power is vested in a particular rationale, system, or ideology and not necessarily in the person who implements the specifics of that doctrine. A nation that follows a constitution applies this type of authority. On a smaller scale, you might encounter rational-legal authority in the workplace via the standards set forth in the employee handbook, which provides a different type of authority than that of your boss.

Of course, ideals are seldom replicated in the real world. Few governments or leaders can be neatly categorized. Some leaders, like Mohandas Gandhi for instance, can be considered charismatic and legal-rational authority figures. Similarly, a leader or government can start out exemplifying one type of authority and gradually evolve or change into another type.

Sociologists examine government and politics in terms of their impact on individuals and larger social systems. Power is an entity or individual’s ability to control or direct others, while authority is influence that is predicated on perceived legitimacy. Max Weber studied power and authority, differentiating between the two concepts and formulating a system for classifying types of authority.

Section Quiz

Which statement best expresses the difference between power and authority?

  • Authority involves intimidation.
  • Authority is more subtle than power.
  • Authority is based on the perceived legitimacy of the individual in power.
  • Authority is inherited, but power is seized by military force.

Which of the following types of authority does not reside primarily in a leader?

  • Dictatorial
  • Traditional
  • Charismatic
  • Legal-rational

In the U.S. Senate, it is customary to assign each senator a seniority ranking based on years of government service and the population of the state he or she represents. A top ranking gives the senator priority for assignments to office space, committee chair positions, and seating on the senate floor. What type of authority does this example best illustrate?

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. used his public speaking abilities and magnetism to inspire African Americans to stand up against injustice in an extremely hostile environment. He is an example of a(n) __________ leader.

  • traditional
  • charismatic
  • legal-rational
  • illegitimate

Which current world figure has the least amount of political power?

  • President Barack Obama
  • Queen Elizabeth II
  • British Prime Minister David Cameron
  • North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un

Which statement best expresses why there have been so few charismatic female leaders throughout history?

  • Women have different leadership styles than men.
  • Women are not interested in leading at all.
  • Few women have had the opportunity to hold leadership roles over the courseof history.
  • Male historians have refused to acknowledge the contributions of female leaders in their records.

Short Answer

Explain why leaders as divergent as Hitler and Jesus Christ are both categorized as charismatic authorities.

Why do people accept traditional authority figures even though these types of leaders have limited means of enforcing their power?

Charismatic leaders are among the most fascinating figures in history. Select a charismatic leader about whom you wish to learn more and conduct online research to find out about this individual. Then write a paragraph describing the personal qualities that led to this person’s influence, considering the society in which he or she emerged.

Further Research

Want to learn more about sociologists at work in the real world? Read this blog posting to learn more about the roles sociology scholars played in the midst of the Arab Spring uprising: http://openstax.org/l/sociology_Arab_Spring

Acton, Lord. 2010 [1887]. Essays on Freedom and Power. Auburn, AL: Ludwig von Mises Institute.

Catrer, Chelsea, and Fantz, Ashley. 2014. “ISIS Video Shows Beheading of American Journalist Steven Sotloft.” CNN, September 9. Retrieved October 5, 2014 ( http://www.cnn.com/2014/09/02/world/meast/isis-american-journalist-sotloff/ )

Eisenberg, Andrew. 1998. “Weberian Patrimonialism and Imperial Chinese History.” Theory and Society 27(1):83–102.

Hosenball, Mark, and Westall, Slyvia. 2014. “Islamic State Video Shows Second British Hostage Beheaded.” Reuters, October 4. Retrieved October 5, 2014 ( http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/10/04/us-mideast-crisis-henning-behading-idUSKCN0HS1XX20141004 )

NPR. 2014. “Debate: Does U.S. Military Intervention in the Middle East help or Hurt?” October 7. Retrieved October 7, 2014 ( http://www.npr.org/2014/10/07/353294026/debate-does-u-s-military-intervention-in-the-middle-east-help-or-hurt )

Mullen, Jethro. 2014. “U.S.-led airstrikes on ISIS in Syria: What you need to know.” CNN, September 24. Retrieved October 5, 2014 ( http://www.cnn.com/2014/09/23/world/meast/syria-isis-airstrikes-explainer/ )

Mullen, Jethro (2014). “U.S.-led airstrikes on ISIS in Syria: Who’s in, who’s not”. CNN, October 2, 2014. Retrieved October 5, 2014 ( http://www.cnn.com/2014/09/23/world/meast/syria-airstrikes-countries-involved/ )

Pollock, John. 2011. “How Egyptian and Tunisian Youth Hijacked the Arab Spring.” Technology Review , September/October. Retrieved January 23, 2012 ( http://www.technologyreview.com/web/38379/ ).

Weber, Max. 1978 [1922]. Economy and Society: An Outline of Interpretive Sociology . Berkeley: University of California Press.

Weber, Max. 1947 [1922]. The Theory of Social and Economic Organization . Translated by A. M. Henderson and T. Parsons. New York: Oxford University Press.

Introduction to Sociology 2e Copyright © 2012 by OSCRiceUniversity (Download for free at https://openstax.org/details/books/introduction-sociology-2e) is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License , except where otherwise noted.

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Social Sci LibreTexts

15.1: Politics, Power, and Authority

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Political sociology studies the relation between state and society, authority and power, and the methods used to formulate social policy.

Learning Objectives

Diagram the three major traditional theoretical frameworks of political sociology, plus trends in contemporary sociology

  • The term ” politics ” is generally applied to behavior within civil governments, but politics has been observed in all human group interactions. It consists of social relations involving authority or power, the regulation of political units, and the methods used to formulate and apply social policy.
  • Traditionally there have been four main areas of research: the socio-political formation of the modern state; how social inequality influences politics; how social movements outside of the formal institutions affect formal politics; and power relationships within and between social groups.
  • There are three major theoretical frameworks: pluralism, elite or managerial theory, and class analysis.
  • Pluralism sees politics primarily as a contest among competing interest groups. It holds the view that politics and decision making are located mostly in the framework of government, but many non-governmental groups use their resources to exert influence.
  • Elite or managerial theory is sometimes called a state-centered approach. It posits that a small minority—consisting of members of the economic elite and policy-planning networks—holds the most power and that this power is independent of a state’s democratic elections process.
  • Social class theory analysis emphasizes the political power of capitalist elites.
  • social policy : Guidelines, principles, legislation and activities that affect the living conditions conducive to human welfare.
  • politics : the art or science of influencing people on a civic, or individual level, when there are more than 2 people involved
  • state : Any sovereign polity. A government.

Politics is the process by which groups of people make decisions. The term is generally applied to behavior within civil governments, but politics has been observed in all human group interactions, including corporate, academic, and religious institutions. It consists of social relations involving authority or power, the regulation of political units, and the methods and tactics used to formulate and apply social policy.

Contemporary political sociology involves the study of relations between state and society.

In the past, a typical research question in political sociology might have been: “Why do so few American citizens choose to vote? ” or “What difference does it make if women get elected? ”

Modern political sociologists are now focused on questions such as: “How is the body a site of power? “, “How are emotions relevant to global poverty? “, or “What difference does knowledge make to democracy? ”

Traditional Political Sociology

Traditionally there have been four main areas of research in political sociology:

  • The socio-political formation of the modern state
  • “Who rules? ” How social inequality between groups (class, race, gender, etc.) influences politics
  • How public personalities, social movements, and trends outside of the formal institutions of political power affect formal politics
  • Power relationships within and between social groups (e.g. families, workplaces, bureaucracy, media, etc.).

Political sociology was traditionally concerned with how social trends, dynamics, and structures of domination affect formal political processes. It also explored how various social forces work together to change political policies. From this perspective there are three major theoretical frameworks: pluralism, elite or managerial theory, and class analysis (which overlaps with Marxist analysis).

Pluralism sees politics as a contest between competing interest groups. It holds the view that politics and decision making are located mostly in the framework of government, but many non-governmental groups use their resources to exert influence. Groups of individuals try to maximize their interests. There are multiple lines of power that shift as power is a continuous bargaining process between competing groups. Any change under this view will be slow and incremental—groups have different interests and may act as “veto groups” to destroy legislation that they do not agree with.

Elite/Managerial Theory

Elite or managerial theory is sometimes called a state-centered approach. It also seeks to describe and explain power relationships in contemporary society. The theory posits that a small minority—consisting of members of the economic elite and policy-planning networks—holds the most power. This power is independent of a state’s democratic elections process. Through positions in corporations, corporate boards, and policy-planning networks, members of the “elite” are able to exert significant power over the policy decisions of corporations and governments.

Class Analysis

Social class analysis emphasizes the political power of capitalist elites. It can be split into two parts. One is the ‘power structure’ or ‘instrumentalist’ approach; the other is the ‘structuralist’ approach. The power structure approach focuses on determining who rules, while the structuralist approach emphasizes the way a capitalist economy operates, allowing and encouraging the state to do some things but not others.

Contemporary Political Sociology

Contemporary political sociology is concerned with the play of power and politics across societies, which includes, but is not restricted to relations between the state and society. In part, this is a product of the growing complexity of social relations, the impact of social movement organizing, and the relative weakening of the state via globalization. Political sociology is as much focused on micro questions (the formation of identity through social interaction; the politics of knowledge), as it is on macro questions (how to capture and use state power).

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Power is frequently defined as the ability to influence the behavior of others with or without resistance.

Differentiate between power and constraint, using real life examples

  • Power can be seen as evil or unjust, but the exercise of power is accepted as endemic to humans as social beings. The use of power need not involve coercion, force or the threat of force.
  • The sociological examination of power concerns itself with discovering and describing the relative strengths: equal or unequal; stable or subject to periodic change.
  • Power may derive from a number of sources, including social class (material wealth can equal power), resource currency (material items such as money, property, food), personal or group charisma, or social influence of tradition (compare ascribed power).
  • Researchers have documented the bystander effect: they found that powerful people are three times as likely to first offer help to a stranger in distress.
  • unilateralism : A tendency of nations to act on their own, or with only minimal consultation and involvement with other nations.
  • bystander effect : When someone is less likely to help another if other potential helpers are present.
  • power elite : a small group of people who control a disproportionate amount of wealth or political power
  • power : The ability to get one’s way even in the face of opposition to one’s goals.

Power is frequently defined by political scientists as the ability to influence the behavior of others with or without resistance. The term authority is often used for power perceived as legitimate by the social structure. Power can be seen as evil or unjust, but the exercise of power is accepted as endemic to humans as social beings. The use of power need not involve coercion, force or the threat of force. At one extreme, power closely resembles what English speakers call “influence”, although some authors make a distinction between the two.

The sociological examination of power involves discovering and describing the relative strengths: equal or unequal; stable or subject to periodic change. Sociologists usually analyze relationships in which parties have relatively equal or nearly equal power in terms of constraint rather than of power. Thus power has a connotation of unilateralism. If this were not so, then all relationships could be described in terms of power, and its meaning would be lost.

Power may derive from a number of sources, including social class (material wealth can equal power), resource currency (material items such as money, property, food), personal or group charisma, ascribed power (acting on perceived or assumed abilities, whether these bear testing or not), social influence of tradition (compare ascribed power), etc.

People use more than rewards, threats and information to influence others. In everyday situations, people use a variety of power tactics to push or prompt others into particular action. There are many examples of power tactics that are quite common and employed everyday. Some of these tactics include bullying, collaboration, complaining, criticizing, demanding, disengaging, evading, humor, inspiring, manipulating, negotiating, socializing and supplicating. Recent experimental psychology suggests that the more power one has the less one takes on the perspective of others, implying that the powerful have less empathy.

Powerful people are also more likely to take action. In one example, more powerful people turned off an irritatingly close fan twice as much as less powerful people. Researchers have documented the “bystander effect” and found that powerful people are three times as likely to first offer help to a stranger in distress.

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Authority refers to the use of power that is seen as legitimate or socially approved/recognized.

Give examples of the three types of authority as defined by Max Weber and what distinguishes all of them from coercion or force

  • Power can be exerted by the use of force or violence. Authority, by contrast, depends on subordinate groups consenting to the use of power wielded by superior groups.
  • Weber defined domination (authority) as the chance of commands being obeyed by a specifiable group of people. Legitimate authority is that which is recognized as legitimate and justified by both the ruler and the ruled.
  • Weber states that legitimacy distinguishes authority, from coercion, force, power, leadership, persuasion and influence. Superiors, he states, feel that they have a right to issue commands; subordinates perceive an obligation to obey.
  • Authoritarianism primarily differs from totalitarianism in that social and economic institutions exist that are not under governmental control.
  • The three attributes of authority are status, specialist skills, and social position.
  • authority : The power to enforce rules or give orders.

Authority is the legitimate or socially approved use of power that a person or a group holds over another. Legitimacy is vital to the notion of authority; legitimacy is the main means by which authority is distinguished from more general notions of power. Power can be exerted by the use of force or violence. Authority, by contrast, depends on subordinate groups consenting to the use of power wielded by superior groups.

Max Weber, in his sociological and philosophical work, identified and distinguished three types of legitimate domination ( Herrschaft in German, which generally means ‘domination’ or ‘rule’). These have sometimes been translated to English as types of authority, because domination is not seen as a political concept. Weber defined domination (authority) as the chance of commands being obeyed by a specifiable group of people. Legitimate authority is that which is recognized as legitimate and justified by both the ruler and the ruled.

The first type discussed by Weber is rational-legal authority. It is a form of authority with legitimacy that depends on formal rules and established laws of the state, which are usually written down and are often very complex.

The second type of authority is traditional authority, which derives from long-established customs, habits, and social structures. When power passes from one generation to another, it is known as traditional authority.

The third form of authority is charismatic authority. Here, the charisma of the individual or the leader plays an important role.

Weber states that legitimacy distinguishes authority from coercion, force, power, leadership, persuasion, and influence. Superiors, he states, feel that they have a right to issue commands; subordinates perceive an obligation to obey. The degree to which these rights and obligations are felt is based on the perceived legitimacy of the authority. A well-established, respected, democratically elected government typically wields more authority than an ad hoc, temporary, or corrupt government.

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Authority and Legitimate Violence

Max Weber conceived of the state as a monopoly of the legitimate use of physical force.

Assess Weber’s argument about the state’s relationship to physical force

  • Weber defines the state as a community successfully claiming authority over legitimate use of physical force in a given territory.
  • Besides the police and the military, private force can be used too, as long as it has legitimacy derived from the state.
  • The right of self-defense is the right by which civilians acting on their own behalf may engage in violence for the sake of defending one’s own life or the lives of others.
  • right of self-defense : The right of self-defense (according to U.S. law) is the right by which civilians acting on their own behalf may engage in violence for the sake of defending one’s own life or the lives of others, including the use of deadly force.
  • the state : A state is a political organization with a centralized government that maintains a monopoly over the legitimate use of force within a certain territory.
  • Max Weber : (1864–1920) A German sociologist, philosopher, and political economist who profoundly influenced social theory, social research, and the discipline of sociology itself.
  • monopoly : a situation in which one party or company exclusively provides a particular product or service, dominating that market and generally exerting powerful control over it

Max Weber, in Politics as a Vocation , conceived of the state as a monopoly of the legitimate use of physical force. According to Weber, the state is that entity that “upholds the claim to the monopoly of the legitimate use of physical force in the enforcement of its order. ” The state’s authority is derived from this: the state can enforce its precepts through force without losing its legitimate authority. This definition of the state has figured prominently in philosophy of law and in political philosophy throughout the twentieth century.

Ownership of territory is another characteristic that Weber deemed prerequisite for a state. Territory is necessary because it defines the scope of the state’s authority: use of force is acceptable, but only in the jurisdiction specified by the state’s lands. Such a monopoly, according to Weber, must occur via a process of legitimation.

The police and the military are the state’s main instruments of legitimate violence, but this does not mean that only public force can be used: private force can be used, too, as long as it has legitimacy derived from the state. The right of self-defense is the right by which civilians acting on their own behalf may engage in violence for the sake of defending one’s own life or the lives of others, including the use of deadly force. In any instance where an individual uses force to defend a third party, it must be demonstrated that the third party was in a position that required another individual’s intervention. The right of self-defense is a private form of legitimate violence that is recognized by the state.

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Traditional Authority

Traditional authority refers to a form of leadership in which authority derives from tradition or custom.

Compare patrimonial government with feudalism within the context of traditional authority

  • Weber traced traditional domination back to patriarchs, their households, and the ancient tradition of family. In such systems, the master is designated in accordance with the rules of inheritance.
  • Patrimonial government occurs when the ruler’s household expands to governmental offices. All officials are personal dependents or favorites of the ruler, and are appointed by him.
  • Feudalism replaced the paternal relationship of patrimonalism with a contract of allegiance based on knightly militarism.
  • feudalism : A social system that is based on personal ownership of resources and personal fealty between a suzerain (lord) and a vassal (subject). Defining characteristics of feudalism are direct ownership of resources, personal loyalty, and a hierarchical social structure reinforced by religion.
  • patrimonial government : A form of governance in which all power flows directly from the leader. The leaders of these countries typically enjoy absolute personal power.
  • tradition : A part of culture that is passed from person to person or generation to generation, possibly differing in detail from family to family, such as the way holidays are celebrated.

Traditional authority is a type of leadership in which the authority of a ruling regime is largely tied to tradition or custom. In sociology, the concept of traditional authority comes from Max Weber ‘s tripartite classification of authority. In addition to traditional authority, Weber claimed that the other two styles of authority were charismatic authority and rational-legal authority. Weber noted that, in history, these ideal types of domination always seemed to occur in combinations.

Weber traced traditional domination back to patriarchs, their households, and the ancient tradition of the family. In such systems, the master, almost exclusively an older father, is designated in accordance with the rules of inheritance. He has no administrative staff, nor any machinery to enforce his will by force alone. Instead, he depends on the willingness of subservient group members to respect his authority. They obey him based on the belief that this is their duty, sanctioned by tradition.

Patrimonial government is related to this model, but is slightly different. This occurs when a patriarchal ruler’s household expands to governmental offices. In this style of leadership, all officials are personal dependents or favorites of the ruler, and are appointed by the ruler. Their interactions with the ruler are based on paternal authority and filial dependence. Military force is an important instrument of patrimonial rule. Patrimonial dominance has often prevailed in the Orient.

Patrimonalism and Feudalism

In comparison to patrimonalism, feudalism has one major similarity and several important differences. The similarity is that both are based on tradition and have powerful rulers who grant rights in return for military and administrative services. There are two important differences. First, feudalism replaced the paternal relationship of patrimonalism with a contract of allegiance based on knightly militarism. Second, in a patrimonial government, officials are personally dependent on the patriarch. In feudalism, these individuals are replaced with vassals, who have contractual freedom, personal allegiance, and socioeconomic prominence.

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Rational-Legal Authority

Rational-legal authority is a form of leadership in which authority is largely tied to legal rationality, legal legitimacy, and bureaucracy.

Recall the three characteristics of the modern state, according to Weber

  • Unlike charismatic authority and traditional authority, rational-legal authority derives its powers from the system of bureaucracy and legality.
  • Weber defined legal order as a system wherein the rules are enacted and obeyed as legitimate because they are in line with other laws on how they can be enacted and how they should be obeyed.
  • The modern state based on rational-legal authority emerged from the patrimonial and feudal struggle for power uniquely in Western civilization.
  • A modern state exists where a political community has created an administrative and legal order, binding authority over citizens, and the legitimate use of physical force.
  • legal order : A system where the rules are enacted and obeyed as legitimate because they are in line with other laws on how they can be enacted and how they should be obeyed. Further, they are enforced by a government that monopolizes their enactment and the legitimate use of physical force.
  • bureaucracy : Structure and regulations in place to control activity. Usually in large organizations and government operations.

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Rational-legal authority is a form of leadership in which the authority of an organization or a ruling regime is largely tied to legal rationality, legal legitimacy, and bureaucracy. It is the second of Max Weber ‘s tripartite classification of authority. The majority of the modern states of the twentieth century are rational-legal authorities, according to those who use this form of classification.

Unlike charismatic authority and traditional authority, rational-legal authority derives its powers from the system of bureaucracy and legality. Weber defined legal order as a system wherein the rules are enacted and obeyed as legitimate because they are in line with other laws on how they can be enacted and how they should be obeyed. These rules are enforced by a government that monopolizes their enactment, while holding the legitimate use of physical force.

Weber wrote that the modern state based on rational-legal authority emerged from the patrimonial and feudal struggle for power uniquely in Western civilization. The prerequisites for the modern Western state are the monopoly by a central authority of the means of administration and control; the monopoly of legislative authority; and the organization of officialdom, dependent upon the central authority.

According to Max Weber, a modern state exists where a political community has three elements. First, an administrative and legal order that has been created and can be changed by legislation that also determines its role. Second, it must have binding authority over citizens and actions in its jurisdiction. Lastly, it must possess the right to legitimately use the physical force in its jurisdiction.

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Charismatic Authority

Charismatic authority is power legitimized by a leader’s exceptional personal qualities, which inspire loyalty and obedience from followers.

Create a model of a hypothetical charismatic leader in a hypothetical government which describes the charisma and explains in detail how it is legitimized, used, and maintained

  • For Weber, charisma applies to “a certain quality of an individual personality, by virtue of which he is set apart from ordinary men and treated as endowed with supernatural powers “.
  • In contrast to the current popular use of the term charismatic leader, Weber saw charismatic authority not so much as character traits of the charismatic leader, but as a relationship between the leader and his followers.
  • A cult of personality refers to when an individual uses mass media, propaganda, or other methods to create an idealized and heroic public image, often through unquestioning flattery and praise.
  • The methods of charismatic succession are search, revelation, designation by original leader, designation by qualified staff, hereditary charisma, and office charisma.
  • routinization : Charismatic authority almost always endangers the boundaries set by traditional or rational (legal) authority. It tends to challenge this authority, and is thus often seen as revolutionary. Usually this charismatic authority is incorporated into society. Hereby the challenge that it presents to society will subside. The way in which this happens is called routinization.
  • cult of personality : A situation where a leader (often a dictator) has been falsely idolized and made into a national or group icon and is revered as a result.
  • revelation : A manifestation of divine truth.

Charismatic authority is one of three forms of authority laid out in Max Weber’s tripartite classification of authority. Weber defined charismatic authority as “resting on devotion to the exceptional sanctity, heroism or exemplary character of an individual person, and of the normative patterns or order revealed or ordained by him”.

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Charismatic authority is power legitimized on the basis of a leader’s exceptional personal qualities, or the demonstration of extraordinary insight and accomplishment, which inspire loyalty and obedience from followers. In contrast to the current popular use of the term charismatic leader, Weber saw charismatic authority not so much as character traits of the charismatic leader but as a relationship between the leader and his followers. For Weber, charisma applies to “a certain quality of an individual personality, by virtue of which he is set apart from ordinary men and treated as endowed with supernatural, superhuman, or at least specifically exceptional powers or qualities. ”

Charismatic authority almost always evolves in the context of boundaries set by traditional or rational-legal authority, but by its nature tends to challenge this authority, and is thus often seen as revolutionary. However, the constant challenge that charismatic authority presents to a particular society will eventually subside as it is incorporated into that society through routinization. Routinization is the process by which “charismatic authority is succeeded by a bureaucracy controlled by a rationally established authority or by a combination of traditional and bureaucratic authority. ”

In politics, charismatic rule is often found in various authoritarian states, autocracies, dictatorships, and theocracies. In order to help to maintain their charismatic authority, such regimes will often establish a vast cult of personality, which is signaled when an individual uses mass media, propaganda, or other methods to create an idealized and heroic public image, often through unquestioning flattery and praise. When the leader of such a state dies or leaves office and a new charismatic leader does not appear, such a regime is likely to fall shortly thereafter unless it has become fully routinized.

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According to Max Weber, the methods of charismatic succession are search, revelation, designation by original leader, designation by qualified staff, hereditary charisma, and office charisma. These are the various ways in which an individual and a society can contrive to maintain the unique energy and nature of charisma in their leadership.

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The Transfer of Authority

In the United States, transfers of authority generally occur after presidential elections.

Compare presidential transitions with transitional justice using real-life examples

  • A presidential transition refers to the period of time between the end of a presidential election and the inauguration of a new president.
  • In the United States, during a presidential transition, the outgoing, “lame duck” president has lost many of the intangible benefits of a presidency, but the incoming president-elect is not yet legally empowered to enforce policy.
  • Transitional justice refers to a range of efforts, on the part of the state, to address past human rights violations. These efforts include both judicial and non-judicial methods.
  • In the context of transitional justice, memorialization is used to honor the victims of human rights abuses.
  • president-elect : a person who has been elected to a presidency but has not yet been inducted into office
  • transitional justice : Transitional justice generally refers to a range of approaches that states may use to address past human rights violations. This includes both judicial and non-judicial approaches.
  • Presidential transition : A presidential transition or presidential interregnum refers to the period of time between the end of a presidential election and the inauguration of a new president.

Presidential Transitions

A presidential transition refers to the period of time between the end of a presidential election and the inauguration of a new president. During this time, the incoming president usually designates new governmental personnel, including those individuals who will either serve in the cabinet or lead governmental agencies.

In the United States, the presidential transition extends from the date of the presidential election, in early November, until the twentieth day of January in the following year. This was specified in the Twentieth Amendment to the Constitution. During a presidential transition, the outgoing president, also known as the “lame duck,” has lost many of the intangible benefits of a presidency. That being said, the incoming president-elect is not yet legally empowered to enforce policy. This ambiguity, between the president-elect and outgoing president, creates the potential for a leadership vacuum, which may be most acutely felt during wartime or times of economic crisis.

Transitional Justice

In other nations, many of which have experienced undemocratic governments and dictators, transitional justice refers to a state’s efforts to address past human rights violations. These efforts can be both judicial and non-judicial, and refer to actions, policies or institutions that are enacted at a point of political transition from violence or repression to societal stability. As a project, transitional justice has a number of goals, including rebuilding social trust, repairing a fractured judicial system, and building a democratic system of governance.

In the context of transitional justice, memorialization is used to honor the victims of human rights abuses. By demonstrating respect and acknowledging the past, national memorials can help governments reconcile tensions with victims. They can also help to establish a record of history and to prevent the recurrence of abuse.

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Contributors and Attributions

  • Curation and Revision. by : Boundless.com. CC BY-SA
  • Key Differences

Know the Differences & Comparisons

Difference Between Power and Authority

power vs authority

Many of us think that these two terms are one and the same thing, but there exists a fine line of difference between power and authority. While the former is exercised in a personal capacity, the latter is used in a professional capacity. So, on this topic, we are going to throw light on the basic differences between the two, have a look.

Content: Power Vs Authority

Comparison chart, definition of power.

By the term power, we mean the personal capacity of an individual to influence others to do or not to do an act. It is independent and informal in nature derived from charisma and status. It is an acquired ability that comes from knowledge and expertise. It is the right to control other’s actions, decisions and performances.

Power is not hierarchical, i.e. it can flow in any direction like it can flow from superior to subordinate (downward) or junior to senior (upward), or between the persons working at the same level, but different departments of the same organization (horizontal), or between the persons working at different levels and departments of the same organization (diagonal). In this way, it is not confined to any boundaries. Moreover, the element of politics is usually attached to it.

Definition of Authority

Authority is legal and formal right to a person, who can take decisions, give orders and commands to others to perform a particular task. It is conferred to high officials, to accomplish organisation’s objectives. It is hierarchical in nature, it flows downward, i.e. delegated from superior to the subordinate.

In general, authority is exercised to get things done through others. It is attached to the position, i.e. any person who gets the position enjoys the authority attached to it, the higher the position, the higher would be his authority. As the authority lies in the designation, in the absence of authority, the position offered to the person would be of no use. Moreover, it is restricted to the organisation only.

Key Differences Between Power and Authority

The difference between power and authority can be drawn clearly on the following grounds:

  • Power is defined as the ability or potential of an individual to influence others and control their actions. Authority is the legal and formal right to give orders and commands, and take decisions.
  • Power is a personal trait, i.e. an acquired ability, whereas authority is a formal right, that vest in the hands of high officials or management personnel.
  • The major source of power is knowledge and expertise. On the other hand, position and office determine the authority of a person.
  • Power flows in any direction, i.e. it can be upward, downward, crosswise or diagonal, lateral. As opposed to authority, that flows only in one direction, i.e. downward (from superior to subordinate).
  • The power lies in person, in essence, a person acquires it, but authority lies in the designation, i.e. whoever get the designation, get the authority attached to it.
  • Authority is legitimate whereas the power is not.

After reviewing the above points, it is quite clear that power and authority are two different things, where power has nothing to do with level or management or position. On the other hand, authority completely depends on these two, i.e. the position level determines the level of authority a person has. In addition to this, the authority relationships, i.e. the relationship between superior and subordinate are depicted on the organisational chart. Conversely, the power relationship is not shown in the organisation chart.

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essay about power and authority

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magdalene says

January 19, 2021 at 8:10 pm

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October 25, 2017 at 7:20 pm

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Simple and easy way of defining the two into various point. Helped me alot for my presentation. Thank you.

November 29, 2017 at 6:32 pm

really understandable concept in a very comfortable way..

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Ofori samuel says

December 13, 2017 at 8:48 pm

In short, “let authorities keep you, power will come and set you free “. Perfect explanation. Thanks

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I would like to know or understand the relationship between Power, Authority and Leadership

Sirius Q says

December 1, 2019 at 7:02 pm

Try and look at Responsibility vs Accountability in relation to Power vs Authority. That may help regarding understanding leadership.

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Millicent E Parker says

February 6, 2019 at 10:39 am

When the Jewish Rabbis questioned Jesus’ dealings with demons, sicknesses & diseases that plagued people, showed that they well understood the difference between Power & Authority. The Comparison Chart has clearly defined sound dissect-ing of these words. I love it. Thanks.

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May 13, 2019 at 3:07 am

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June 19, 2019 at 5:54 pm

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July 9, 2019 at 2:53 pm

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October 2, 2019 at 1:31 am

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October 11, 2020 at 2:59 am

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McSmoke says

October 23, 2020 at 6:10 pm

Thank you very much for making this easier to understand. This is very useful in determining the boundaries between power and authority, indeed. Gotcha!

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December 9, 2020 at 2:06 am

This has clearly outlined what have been looking for..awesome content

Tefera says

January 21, 2021 at 1:06 pm

You put the difference in a nutshell and understandable way. So wonderful! Thanks a lot

Godwin says

October 4, 2021 at 5:39 pm

Excellent answer and good information.

reyhan says

December 3, 2021 at 11:44 am

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ibrahim isah says

March 7, 2022 at 5:09 pm

extremely easy to understand the difference between power and authority excellence

NSABIMANA LIVINGSTONE says

March 10, 2022 at 8:43 am

It has been crystal clear differentiating power and authority. Before I could notably differentiate the two but now I will give a good presentation.

Aungwa Desmond msughter says

May 19, 2022 at 12:54 am

Very good and self explanative

Adv Sajjid Ali says

August 5, 2022 at 11:58 pm

Thank you so much! good information and the difference between power and authority. Once again thank you so much. May God bless you.

Repent says

October 21, 2022 at 6:42 pm

The point is very understandable short and brief. Authority and power are two different things or (terms)

Sofiat says

June 5, 2023 at 4:44 pm

Wow very understandable short and brief.

Nso Clement Eyong says

August 18, 2023 at 9:36 pm

Powerful explanation and absolute clarity with easeness of understanding.

A.J Ayomide says

November 13, 2023 at 9:25 pm

You make it, more explicit to understand So well understandable

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Power, Authority, and Influence, Essay Example

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The issue of professional success to many African-American has been a real dream due to insensitive corporate cultures, racism and issues related to social economic factors. To many these stabling obstacles has shuttered the possibility of excellence. These do not involve the high profile elites or those people who are already on the field of success and highly ranked in leadership positions. These bring the difference in carrier opportunities among many raising issues of where the advantaged get their support and strategies used to excel in certain well developed organisations. Following such shortcomings, several guidelines have been developed to facilitate more opportunities to all stakeholders. They include proper management of relationships that will be vital in securing meaningful and influential positions in business. Developing the sixth sense that aids the game apart from reading the written rules. The power to overcome isolation, not only in the place of organisation but also raising a voice that will be heard and respected by all will help address the problem of under privileges. The other thing is owns trustworthiness and potentiality in managing any present issue of racism that comes along in business. Similarly, understanding what true power is and how to compete and acquire that power not forgetting to translate it into substantial leadership. Pioneering these great changes will form a route for other future generations facilitating them to achieve even greater returns. (Cobbs, Turnock 2003 pg1-6).

According to Cobbs & Turnock, (2003), these issues of power, authority and influence confines within workplace. It focuses mostly on issues pertain to leadership. In some instances Paul Banks was forced to sacrifice important activities in favour of others but several circumstances that had to be met to accomplish the mission or hit the target of interest was not be that appealing thus an option of quick withdrawal from the deal followed. These happened in a case of job positions where she was promised of advancement or high rank if only she could waits for more than eight years, considering her objectives and goals on target, that was beyond reach and refusing it was the only way to avoid humiliation. The fact that she was a female could have been the reason. (Academic recourse centre inc. 2009 par 2).

The ability to exert influence over one’s environment is the power and an active role that affects ones control and social discipline in business. Social and self discipline is part of supportive processes that determine social justice by offering a unifying model that can optimize all uses of power and authority. Therefore, through maximizing of social engagement by being active in community building and reactive response to wrong doings was one of solutions to getting corporate power and influence. Use of force to establish social discipline by the authority to ensure that people do the right is applied and fear of punishment keeps the subordinate under control.

As stated by Kim & Mauborgne (1997)Punitive cultures suppresses the discussion of who has power and how it is exercised, instead of community being involved in discussion of social goals and social discipline those privileges are left to elites. They generate resentment resistance and concentrate social power at the top where problems are solved closed doors, plans made inside managerial spheres. Decisive participation from other sources or people whose their lives are determined by those issues are left out in a state of disempowerment and distrust of authorities hence both active and passive resistance. Following such allegations a punitive power solving approach that involve zero tolerant is adopted. These is a positive response to misbehaviour that include punishment and use of criminal charges that exiles subordinates from social folds to positively impact their behaviours. Practices like effective statements and questions encourage direct and emotional communication between members. Informal meeting helps to resolve problems or share positive experiences while learning about one another, building relationships and trust hence setting behavioural standards and problem solving. The voices of underground personels are clearly brought out in the way in which they participate in communal conversation allowing them to tell their stories. Therefore, some simple processes like participatory decision making in a family and in the community to collectively plan for certain undertakings plays a great role in developing power and influence in business.

Since justice restoration plays a vital role in creation and building of social capital, it is vital to implement it in any social institution including even micro-levels of the family. These processes of formal and informal using high levels of control and support have the potential to transform the use of authority in the society. The presence of power can never be ignored instead requires a creative approach with such restorations radically changing how we talk about power and authority and who are included in our conversation hence in these restorative conditions the individuals and community can get adequate social potential to suppress the punitive manifested by authority (Bailie 2009 par1-7).

Works Cited

Academic recourse centre inc. Papers on “Power and Authority at Work” and similar term paper topics Retrieved on August 2, 2009 from<http://209.85.129.132/searchq=cache:dEcPsQSXtIwJ:www.academon.com/lib/paper/94183.html+How+Frank+Fountain+and+Paula+Banks+acquired+corporate&cd=1&hl=en&ct=clnk> (2009) par 2.

Bailie J “Power, Authority and Restorative Practices” Retrieved on August 2nd 2009   from<http://209.85.129.132/search?q=cache:bpO8l3iPZs0J:www.iirp.org/r ealjustice/library/power_authority.html+Power,+Authority,+and+Influence+Discipli          ne+in+Business&cd=1&hl=en&ct=clnk>( 2009) par1-7.

Cobbs P M, Turnock J L “The Revealing Success Stories of 32 African-American Executives,” A Book on Cracking the Corporate Code, Retrieved on August 2, 2009 from <http://www.amacombooks.org/book.cfm?isbn=9780814407714> (2003)par 1-7.

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  • Essay on Government

Power And Authority Essay

Type of paper: Essay

Topic: Government , Authority , Freedom , Knowledge , Democracy , Cinema , Management , Education

Words: 1000

Published: 01/26/2020

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In the two works the Tempest, William Shakespeare play and Julie Taymor’s film the Tempest, there is a quench for power that is never ending and it is an inexorable and popular theme in the whole drama. In the drama there is a duel between the antagonists and protagonists for control of the island. Power is expressed in a manner that control and want for power is what people crave for, and they portray others as minorities to exhibit power. In relation to power, authority comes in where with the power at hand one is able to display authority or becomes authoritative on others who are less powerful or of less authority. So with the power comes the authority and that is what is portrayed in the two works as is discussed below.

William Shakespeare the Tempest (play) and Julie Taymor the Tempest (film)

In the play and film the characters have a different understanding of class and social structure. Social and class structure is understood in a way that there is a chain of command or being where there is a place for everything and everyone. An example is there is God who is at the top, then angels are below him, and then humans follow. Every person knows their position and place and even though there is flexibility in the structures socially, if by chance something or someone moves from their place this can result into chaos or lack of order. From the play it is evident that according to the Elizabethan beliefs social spots are fixed. King is King and it is God –given. In relation to the play Antonio takes hold of power from Prospero his older brother who is rightfully supposed to take the throne. This act is seen as a wrong and it results to rebellions, mutinies, political treachery, and conspiracies. This made Prospero to raise up a storm that would kill his brother Antonio and the King which will grant him access to kingship. Power and authority makes the characters in the play and film interpret events differently with regard to their social and class structure. From the play the characters interpret events based on what power and authority they have. An example is when Gonzalo a mere councilor is not able to defend himself from the Lords who are royalty. Even the king cannot defend Gonzalo although he did it for him just because the Lords are of royalty. The play also passes the message that reminds everyone to be cautious with the status and titles that goes with them which influences how they treat events. This also is what sets the play’s tone, in a way that men’s titles are cared for less by natural elements. An example is Gonzalo setting out his perfect society. In relation to power and authority, is it necessary that with knowledge one has access to power? Does knowledge really have an influence on power? From the play and film, his brother Antonio takes Prospero’s dukedom from him when he pursues learning in liberal arts, which is apparently a more honorable course than political power. This contradicts the statement that with knowledge comes power since that knowledge has led to losing of power by Prospero. Miranda due to her education has been elevated and therefore has power over those who come to the island while Caliban despite having knowledge of the whole island submits to two drunkards. From the examples an opinion that knowledge works in both ways for those who seek power. Knowledge in one hand gives one power in some instances and in the other hand certain instances it deprives one of power. Power and authority also has an effect or a part to play in slavery, servitude, and freedom. The characters in the play and film use different ways to acquire freedom from slavery and servitude. Of the slaves are Caliban, Ariel, Prospero, Alonso, Antonio, Sebastian, and Ferdinand. Firstly Caliban has two master. The first being Prospero who he submits to since he does not have a master. Caliban frees himself from Prospero by submitting to other masters who are the drunks. He submits to them since they offer him alcohol and since they are alternatives to his other master. He later on gains his freedom from the two drunks since they lost their alcohol and therefore did not have an edge over him. Power comes in where his masters both had power over him since Prospero had magical powers and the drunks had alcohol that gave them the power which overall made both masters have authority over him. Secondly Ariel who is a slave to Prospero because he saved her from being imprisoned by Sycorax in a tree. Ariel gains freedom from Prospero by gaining trust and loyalty from him and finally he asks for his freedom. Prospero from seeing how loyal and trustworthy he is decides to grant him freedom. Power and authority comes in where Prospero uses his magical advantage over Ariel to control and have authority over him. Thirdly, Antonio enslaves his brother Prospero from his right of ruling. He gains access to this after several attempts to pass on a message through ill and right ways. He threatens them against further betrayal and he gains his right to become ruler of Naples. Fourth, Alonso, Sebastian, and Alonso are also enslaved by their guilt of what they did to Prospero. They fear and are dreadful of the part they played in the expulsion of Prospero. They are freed from this when Prospero becomes rightful king and when he forgives them for what they did. In conclusion both works portray similar items with concern to the topic at hand and therefore are the same with regard to this aspect of discussion.

Works Cited

Shakespeare, William, and Virginia Mason Vaughan. The tempest. London: Bloomsbury, 2011. Print. The tempest. Dir. Julie Taymor. Perf. Helen Mirren, Djimon Hounsou, Russell Brand . Touchstone Home Entertainment :, 2011. DVD.

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Power vs Authority

Power vs Authority

“Authority and power are two different things: power is the force using which you can oblige others to obey you. Authority is the right to direct and command, to be listened to or obeyed by others. Authority requests power. Power without authority is tyranny.” – JACQUES MARITAIN, “The Democratic Charter,” Man and the State.

There are many differences and many similarities between power and authority. In the criminal justice system, one must realize that they will have both of these traits in possession and must use them wisely to maintain stability and balance. You will be given power through assistance from others in your field, through the specific skills you were taught which will develop each day physically and mentally, and people will realize your power as your progress. You will also have authority from your position and who you are as a person. Your influence in the field you work in will make people respect you and see you as a higher authority. They will be advised of you from their mistakes and they will learn from you. It is from your power which they will give you authority and your presence. If they do not obey your authority from their negative acts, they will face the consequences, that is power from authority.

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Power must not be used in the wrong way. If your power is used for the wrong reasons, it can create chaos and you may face consequences from powers above you. Authority must not be used in the wrong way either. Through authority, people must listen and abide by you. You can make people do wrong things and that will cause you to have a bad image. Corrupt cops are an example of power and authority used in the wrong way. When they take advantage of what they are representing the law, they can get away with numerous things if planned and executed correctly. Speeding tickets can be gone through a simple bribe, money laundering can be organized through the powers police possess, Power Vs Authority: Week 3 3

even drug trafficking can be permitted as long as a police officer gets his/her cut. In addition to grave consequences for the individuals suffering from power misused, unethical acts by criminal justice professionals also harm society. Residents of a neighborhood are mistreated by law enforcement and are therefore afraid to go to the police station to report a crime and far fewer criminals will be caught. These sorts of problems will weaken society’s belief in the justice system and, not only lead to increasing in lawlessness but can also result in some individuals taking the law into their own hands. This cannot be tolerated in law enforcement, power and authority must be used responsibly and must be under surveillance as well….it’s why we have internal affairs.

In the criminal justice system, authority is more important than power. Power is given through your rank and as you develop through rank, so will your power and so will your authority. But it is your authority that will represent what kind of person you are through the actions and the experiences you will face. Police officers have power but their authority to the city and through the criminal justice system is what makes them stand out, so It is important for professionals in the criminal justice field to study ethics, because mistakes by these professionals can be extremely costly. They should recognize the great potential for harm that is associated with the study of criminal justice, and they do not knowingly place the well-being of themselves or other people in jeopardy in their professional work. one wrong judgment can cost you your job. Ethics will teach an individual to use power and authority responsibly and will encourage them to give proper authority towards others.

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Long Island Power Authority's structure avoids patronage, requires accountability; don't make it a public utility

Power lines along the North Shore Rail Trail in Mount Sinai.

Power lines along the North Shore Rail Trail in Mount Sinai. Credit: Newsday/Steve Pfost

Long Islanders need to come to grips with the fact that a handful of Albany politicians are proposing to create yet another government bureaucracy that would be led by dozens of politically appointed trustees and entrusted by the state to keep our lights on.

A state commission has endorsed a plan to make the Long Island Power Authority responsible for the region's electrical network. This new layer of government supposedly would save as much as $80 million a year over the current structure where PSEG Long Island has a contract to maintain, repair, restore, and innovate our energy grid. LIPA’s new role will include 39 appointments, some of whom will get a starting stipend of $25,000 a year for the part-time position.

As one who served on the LIPA board, worked at the Long Island Rail Road and Metropolitan Transportation Authority, and was chief deputy Suffolk County executive, the idea that LIPA could be transformed from its current role of overseeing PSEG Long Island and managing the Shoreham debt into a government agency capable of saving tens of millions of dollars is a fiction worthy of the Twilight Zone.

The 2013 LIPA Reform Act has actually worked. It has allowed LIPA to successfully manage the $6 billion ratepayers still owe on the defunct nuclear plant and monitor the contractor that runs the grid. It provides LIPA with access to the best of a public-private structure, avoiding patronage, creating transparency and requiring accountability from PSEG. Why would Long Island want to give that up?

The case for making LIPA a fully public utility.

If LIPA was handed the keys to running the grid, every decision, big or small, would be subject to the pressures of politics, patronage, and parochial complaints. This prediction is not based on speculation but on personal observation. Consider one example.

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I was stunned to discover that before my pre-Superstorm Sandy arrival on the LIPA board, the authority responded to multiple protests to its plan to trim trees that threatened overhead lines by eliminating many of its tree-trimming assignments. We would all pay the price as the sound of chain saws filled our neighborhoods for weeks after Sandy as we waited for power to be restored.

Every Long Islander should be concerned about the level of accountability a reinvented LIPA would owe to ratepayers. While PSEG now incurs serious financial penalties if it fails to meet performance criteria, how does one penalize a government authority when it proves to be inadequate, or even incompetent? When LIPA failed in the wake of Superstorm Sandy, then-Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo sent his chief of staff to LIPA'S Uniondale office and fired the lot of them, ultimately handing management of the grid over to PSEG. Cuomo wanted a public-private contract to incentivize or penalize the company based on performance. That ability will end if LIPA is given back the job of running the grid.

The multiple hearings the LIPA Commission held to review this plan were attended by insiders, paid consultants, and advocates. Few, if any, of the hundreds of thousands of Long Islanders who will pay LIPA’s bill under this scenario are aware of what’s at stake. For this speculative saving of $80 million, or about $3 a month per ratepayer, we would lose accountability from those tasked with keeping the lights on and gain another patronage empire.

At the end of the day, Gov. Kathy Hochul will decide whether day-to-day management of Long Island's electrical grid should pass back to a government entity whose previous performance was defined by Superstorm Sandy. We can hope that she will see this for what it is: a political agenda pursued by a handful who will not be around to answer the question after the next superstorm: “When am I getting my power back? "

This guest essay reflects the views of Thomas McAteer, a former LIPA board member.

This guest essay reflects the views of Thomas McAteer, a former LIPA board member.

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COMMENTS

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    The term "power" refers to a person's ability to control other people's thoughts, actions, beliefs, or ideas (Garner, Ferdinand, Lawson & Macdonald, 2012). The concept of power goes further to explain how individuals can realize their potentials or achieve a specific "end" (Garner et al., 2012).

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    Figure 17.2 Government buildings are built to symbolize authority, but they also represent a specific perspective or message. The Capitol Complex in Bangladesh, Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, was designed to capture the essence of an entirely new country. Rather than the fortress-like, Greek- and Roman-inspired structures of many government buildings, architect Louis Kahn set the rounded, asymmetrical ...

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    authority: The power to enforce rules or give orders. Authority is the legitimate or socially approved use of power that a person or a group holds over another. Legitimacy is vital to the notion of authority; legitimacy is the main means by which authority is distinguished from more general notions of power. Power can be exerted by the use of ...

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    Preview Philosophy Of Authority In Marketing Authority Philosophy… How to become the most trusted Legal Firm in your market. Becoming an authority is a powerful strategy that can transform your practice. It draws people to work with you instead of your competitors. It gives you an unfair insight into what people want and why they act.

  15. Difference Between Power and Authority (with Comparison Chart)

    Power is a personal trait, i.e. an acquired ability, whereas authority is a formal right, that vest in the hands of high officials or management personnel. The major source of power is knowledge and expertise. On the other hand, position and office determine the authority of a person.

  16. Power, Authority, and Influence, Essay Example

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  17. Free Essay On Power And Authority

    Power and authority makes the characters in the play and film interpret events differently with regard to their social and class structure. From the play the characters interpret events based on what power and authority they have. An example is when Gonzalo a mere councilor is not able to defend himself from the Lords who are royalty.

  18. A+ Student Essay: How Do the Pigs Maintain Authority on Animal Farm?

    George Orwell's Animal Farm examines the insidious ways in which public officials can abuse their power, as it depicts a society in which democracy dissolves into autocracy and finally into totalitarianism. From the Rebellion onward, the pigs of Animal Farm use violence and the threat of violence to control the other animals. However, while the attack dogs keep the other animals in line ...

  19. Power vs Authority

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  20. Power and Authority

    In conclusion, authority is the right to command and enforce rules or give orders. Power is a form of social influence resulting from another person's behavior. Authority and power are linked with law, social control and duties of citizens, because the officers have to abide by the law while still enforcing authority, while using their power.…

  21. Long Island Power Authority's structure avoids patronage ...

    The 2013 LIPA Reform Act has actually worked. It has allowed LIPA to successfully manage the $6 billion ratepayers still owe on the defunct nuclear plant and monitor the contractor that runs the grid.