Power, Authority and Legitimacy

Question 1

Power

What is power defined as?

Answer 1

The ability to achieve a desired effect even if there is opposition

Question 2

Power

How can power be delegated?

Answer 2

• Consent
• Coercion

Question 3

Power

What does power imply?

Answer 3

• Ability to make and enforce decisions that are binding on others

Question 4

Power

What does influence imply?

Answer 4

• Ability to influence the decision making process through external pressure

Question 5

Power

What is power without authority called?

Answer 5

Naked power

Question 6

Power

What is the intentionalist view of power?

Answer 6

Power is always linked to an identifiable group

Question 7

Power

What is the structuralist view of power?

Answer 7

Power is a feature of the social system

Question 8

Power

What Steven Lukes’ Three Faces of Power?

Answer 8

• Ability to influence decision making (preferrable)
• Ability to influence non-decision-making
• Ability to manipulate individual preferences

Question 9

Authority

What is authority?

Answer 9

A form of power which is legitimate, and confers the right to influence behaviour. Individuals accept the right to rule.

Question 10

Authority

What example can be used to demonstrate that authoritarian regimes do not suffer loss of confidence in the same manner?

Answer 10

Robert Mugabe

Question 11

Authority

What does Locke say about authority?

(Liberal)

Answer 11

• Locke believes government must be limited, rational and with purpose. Should protect the natural rights of the citizen

Question 12

Authority

What does Scruton argue about authority?

(Conservative)

Answer 12

Authority is a natural necessity whilst authority derives from unequal distribution of wisdom, experience and social standing - authoritarianism does not need to be checked.

Question 13

Authority

What does Bakunin argue about authority?

(Anarchist)

Answer 13

Authority is the opposite of freedom - essentially morally corrupting and encourages domination

Question 14

Legitimacy

What does legitimacy do?

Answer 14

the process which transforms authority into power - legitimacy implies respect, law does not.

Question 15

Power

What are Keith Boulding’s three methods of influencing decision making?

Answer 15

• The Stick - use of intimidation or force
• The Deal - arriving at a set of circumstances or decisions for mutual benefit
• The Kiss - creating a sense of commitment, loyalty or obligation

Question 16

Authority

What are Max Weber’s models of authority?

Answer 16

• Legal-rational - most important form - replaces traditional authority, most applicable in modern society. Used in bureaucratic systems of today’s society. Operates through de jure authority, not de facto
• Charismatic - based on personal appeal - cult of personality. Linked strongly to authoritarianism.
• Traditional - long established customs - legitimate because has always been legitimate.

Question 17

Authority

What is an alternative perspective of authority?

Answer 17

• Authority in law - de jure - through procedures and rules. ‘In authority’
• Authority in practice - de facto - usually through an individual, not necessarily a rule or procedure - ‘an authority’

Question 18

Power and Authority

What are the ideological justifications for power and authority?

Answer 18

• conservative - authority = natural necessity. Key part of all institutions. Plato used this to justify philosopher kings. Basis of community, strengthens social cohesion - Burke and Irving Kristol
• Social Contract - classical justification - no state = state of nature. Requires rationality and restraint, protects civil liberties
• Authoritarian Perspective- Authority = threat. Arendt and Reich - collapse of authority leads to totalitarianism. Loss of traditional moral and social behaviours and authority that brings identity, stability and reassurance allows dictatorship
• Marxist - not solely opposed to authority, does not like inquitous authority of liberal democratic regimes
• Anarchist - state is exploitative and oppressive. Any authority is wrong

Question 19

Authority

What did Irving Kristol say about permissive society?

Answer 19

Permissive society has undermined authority - evidenced in the rise of anti-social behaviour.

Question 20

Legitimacy and authority

What did Rousseau, Weber and Beetham say about authority and government?

Answer 20

• Rousseau - government by general will
• Weber - Legal rational, charismatic and traditional
• Beetham: Three conditions necessary

1. Exercised according to conventions, codes and rules
2. Rules must reflect the belief of government
3. Unqualified consent of those who are governed

Question 21

Legitimacy

How does legitimacy operate in democracy and dictatorships?

Answer 21

• Democracy through elections and constitutionalism
• Dictatorships through facade democracy and progress

Question 22

Legitimacy

What is consent?

Answer 22

• Individuals agree to participate or hold responsibility for a desired outcome.
• Basic criteria of legitimacy
• Heart of mandate

Question 23

Legitimacy

How is consent gained in a democracy?

Answer 23

• Active involvement in voting
  
  • Tacit consent through obligation

Question 24

Legitimacy

Gaining consent in a dictatorship

Answer 24

• Popular consent
• Rallies and marches
• Plebiscites
• Facade elections
• Marxist-Leninism - through the adherence to core tenets of Marxist-Leninism by the Proletariat Party

Question 25

Legitimacy

What is the Marxist criticism of ideological hegemony and manufacturing of consent?

Answer 25

1. Liberal democracies dominated by bourgeois ideology - bourgeoisie is dominant
2. Ideologies are false claims, delusions or mystification
3. Gramsci - bourgeoise hegemony - proletarian could not achieve class consciousness because of delusion
4. Mannheim, Berger and Luckmann - ideologies - socially determined, everything is a social construct

Chomsky - Manufacturing Consent - News and political story is manipulated by private media owners for profit