How is ‘power’ different from ‘authority’? Discuss various types of authorities as theorized by Max Weber. (UPSC CSE Mains 2024 - Sociology, Paper 1)
Weber defined power as the chance that an individual in a social relationship can achieve his or her own will even against the resistance of others. Weber defines authority as legitimate forms of domination, that is, forms of domination which followers or subordinates consider to be legitimate.
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Authority
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Power
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Authority is derived from formal positions within the organizational hierarchy. It is granted by the organization based on the role and responsibilities assigned to individuals
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Power can stem from personal qualities, expertise, relationships, or control over resources.
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Authority is considered legitimate within the organizational structure and is supported by formal rules and policies. It is recognized as the rightful exercise of control and decision-making.
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Power may or may not have inherent legitimacy and can be based on personal influence or informal networks.
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Authority grants individuals the right to make decisions within their defined areas of responsibility. It provides a formal framework for decision-making in line with organizational objectives and policies.
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Power can enable individuals to influence decisions even if they do not have formal authority. They may use their personal influence or persuasive skills to shape outcomes.
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Authority typically operates within a specific scope and is limited to the responsibilities associated with the formal position.
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Power can extend beyond formal boundaries and impact areas beyond the designated scope of authority. Individuals with power can influence decisions, actions, and behaviours of others in various ways.
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Authority has the inherent ability to enforce compliance and direct the actions of subordinates. It is backed by the formal power to assign tasks, give directives, and enforce organizational policies.
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Power may rely more on influence, persuasion, and personal relationships to gain compliance from others.
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Authority tends to be more stable and enduring over time, as it is established within the formal structure of the organization. It remains consistent unless there are changes in organizational roles or hierarchies.
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Power can be more dynamic and can change based on personal relationships, shifting alliances, or changes in organizational dynamics.
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Authority establishes a formal relationship between superiors and subordinates, defining roles, responsibilities, and reporting lines. It provides a clear framework for accountability.
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Power can influence relationships beyond formal reporting lines. Individuals with power can have an impact on the attitudes, behaviours, and motivations of others, regardless of their formal position in the hierarchy.
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Max Weber distinguishes three types of authority—charismatic, traditional and legal-rational—each of which corresponds to a brand of leadership that is operative in contemporary society.
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Weber’s Three Types of Authority
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Traditional
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Charismatic
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Legal-Rational
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Source of Power
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Legitimized by long-standing custom
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Based on a leader’s personal qualities
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Authority resides in the office, not the person
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Leadership Style
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Historic personality
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Dynamic personality
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Bureaucratic officials
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Example
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Patriarchy (traditional positions of authority), royal families with no political power but social influence
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Napoleon, Jesus Christ, Mother Teresa, Martin Luther King, Jr.
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U.S. presidency and Congress, Modern British Parliament
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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.
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