topic 2

Power, Authority &

Legitimacy
introduction

power
Power,
authority &
Authority legitimacy

Legitimacy

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introduction
 Influence is related with power,
authority and legitimacy
 Important elements in political science

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 definition

power The Significance of Power

Sources of Power

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power
 Without power, it would be
impossible for the government to
maintain law and order to pursue
policies for social, economic and
political development of the country.
definition
 Max Weber: “Power as a tool for
individual or a group of human to
achieve their objectives even though
their behaviors involves with violence
or coercion.”

 Karl Marx: “Political power as an

instrument for elite groups to maintain
their influence and using power to rule
other group of people.”
 Ramanathan: “Power is influence,
absolute rights of individual as a ruler.
Ability to settle problem, implement
policy will influence the citizen’s loyalty.”

 R. H. Tawney: “The capacity on an

individual, or group of individuals, to
modify the conduct of other individuals
or groups in the manner in which he (the
power holder) desires.” (A has power
over B if A can get B to do something
that B would not otherwise do) Back
Back
The Significance of Power
 There are 6 factors why the power is
very important:
i) Power is an instrument for individual
to achieve objectives or aims.
ii) Power is the tool for the leader to
gain support from the people as to
implement certain policy.
iii) Power can be considered as a
guarantee for the leader to convince
people.
iv)Power symbolizes strength and
influence. Only those individual with
freedom of power able to do
whatever the want.
v) Power ensures the government
administration run smoothly.
vi)Power ensures there is peace and
surveillance in the country.

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Sources of Power
 French and Raven (1959) identify five
sources power that give rise to five
types of power:
i) Force: The Coercive Power
ii) Wealth: The Reward Power
iii) Expertise: The Expert Power
iv) Position: The Legitimate Power
v) Popular Support: The Referent
Power
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Force: The Coercive Power
 Force is probably the most easily
recognizable source of power.
Extremely successful in making
individuals do what one wants. The
follower’s belief that the leader has the
power to punish him for non-
compliance.

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

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Expertise: The Expert Power
 Expertise has provided individuals with
power and influence. “Knowledge is
power”. Known as expert of information
power, it is based on the
follower’s belief that the leader
possesses superior information and
ability. Expertise is based on
possession of information about the
working of things. Thus expertise
includes knowledge as well as skills
derived from that knowledge. BBaacckk
Position: The Legitimate Power
 Position in organization is one of the
surest avenues to power. Known as
legitimate power, it is based on the
follower’s belief that the power-holder
has a right to influence him and he has
an obligation to follow.

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

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 definition

authority features of authority

how a leader gains authority

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authority
 Authority is closely associated with
power: authority is formal or legal as
distinguished from personal power.
 involved in the concept of authority:
i) a position: authority is attached to
these positions.
ii) roles: the set of patterned
expectations about behavior that
the members of society attach to
a position in an institution.
definition
 Rogow & Lasswell (1963) – Authority
can be defined as the legitimate
(conforming to establish rules and
procedures) exercise of power. It is

power assigned to a position by the

popularly accepted ground rules for the
operation of the political system.
 A.R Ball: “Authority is the recognition of
the rights to rule without limited power
obtained by the leader.
 Roskin: “It refers to the leader’s ability
to gain loyalty.”

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

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

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Charismatic Authority

 Refers to people’s following a leader

because they believe that he or she
has extraordinary personal qualities
that command their obedience. For
example, political leaders like
Mussolini, Hitler and Mao Zedong.

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Legal-rational Authority

 Based upon acceptance of publicly

articulated, society-wide rules and
regulations issued by duly authorized
public officials. Hold any position
according to the legal procedures. The
emphasis is upon the “official
processes” and the necessity of going
through “proper channels” rather than
governing according to the personal
desire to leaders.
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how a leader gains authority
 Authority comes with the office or
position one holds
 An official structure provides authority
to a leader
 Authority is derived from ancient
customs or traditions or conventions
 Authority is gained through the laws of
the land
 Knowledge or expertise in a particular
field
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 definition

legitimacy
methods of achieving legitimacy

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legitimacy
definition
 Legitimacy means the right of king or
queen towards the kingship because it
is based on the legitimate birth or
legitimate child from legitimate birth.
 Usually defined simply as ‘rightfulness’
 David Bentham proposed that power
could only be said to be legitimate if 3
conditions are fulfilled: (a) Power must
be exercised according to established
rules (b) These rules must be justified in
terms of the shared beliefs of the
government and the governed (c)
Legitimacy must be demonstrated by
the expression of consent on the part of
the governed.

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methods of achieving legitimacy
 A government may achieve legitimacy
by existing a long time
 A government may also gain legitimacy
by governing justly, fairly and well
taking into consideration the welfare of
all citizens
 The structure of government can also
contribute to its legitimacy
 A government can gain legitimacy by
the manipulation of national symbols
such as the national flag, historic
monuments, national day parades and
emotional speeches.

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- THE END -