Politics, Power, and Authority: Basics of Sociology
Politics, Government and Social
Movements
Basics of Sociology-IRD115
Ishik University
Department of International Relations and
Diplomacy
Politics
Means whereby power is used to affect the scope
and content of government activities.
Politics extends beyond government to include
organizations and social movements that pursue
political goals.
Power
Max Weber:
“the chance of a man or a
number of men to realize their
own will in a command action
even against the resistance of
others who are participating in
the action”
Authority
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.
Class exercise: Give example for
people who have authority/ power!
Max Weber and Typology of
Authority/power
1- Traditional power
A power
legitimatized
through respect for
long-established
cultural patterns. e.g
power in a tribal
structure
2- Charismatic
•
Charismatic
: it is drawn
from the devotion felt
towards a leader by
his/her subordinates
who believe that the
leader possesses
exceptional qualities
that inspire devotion.
3- Rational-Legal
Rational-legal
: that is
power that is legitimized
through legally enacted
rules and regulations.
Power in particular
positions or offices not
people.
Government and Nation-state
•
the sphere of
government is the scope
of political power. All
political life is about
power: who holds it?
How they achieve it and
what they do with it.
Nation-state
•
states in which great
mass of population
consists of citizens who
regard themselves as
part of a single nation.
Key characteristics of
nation-states are:
Characteristics of Nation-states
Sovereignty:
government possesses authority over an
area with a clear-cut border, within which it is a super
power.
Citizenship:
people who are living within the borders of a
political system are citizens, having common rights and
duties and regarding themselves as part of a nation.
Nationalism:
set of symbols and beliefs providing the
sense of being part of a single political community. Thus,
individuals feel a sense of pride and belonging in being
British, Canadian and so on.
Forms of Government
1- Monarchy
•
a
monarchy
is a government in
which a single person (a monarch)
rules until he or she dies or
abdicates the throne. Usually, a
monarch claims the rights to the
title by way of hereditary
succession or as a result of some
sort of divine appointment or
calling.
Absolute
vs.
ceremonial
Monarchies
constitutional monarchies:
governments of
nations that recognize monarchs but require
these figures to abide by the laws of a greater
constitution.
2- Oligarchy
•
The power in an
oligarchy
is held
by a small, elite group. Unlike in a
monarchy, members of an oligarchy
do not necessarily achieve their
statuses based on ties to noble
ancestry. Rather, they may ascend to
positions of power because of
military might, economic power, or
similar circumstances.
3- Dictatorship
•
Power in a
dictatorship
is
held by a single person (or a
very small group) that wields
complete and absolute
authority over a government
and population. Like some
absolute monarchies,
dictatorships may be corrupt
and seek to limit or even
eradicate the liberties of the
general population.
4- Democracy
•
A
democracy
is a form of
government that strives to provide
all citizens with an equal voice, or
vote, in determining state policy,
regardless of their level of
socioeconomic status. Another
important fundamental of the
democratic state is the
establishment and governance of a
just and comprehensive
constitution that delineates the
roles and responsibilities of leaders
and citizens alike.
Forms of Democracy:
Participatory
Democracy
Vs.
Representative Democracy
Participatory Democracy
•
Decisions are made communally by those
affected by them.
•
This was the original type of democracy
practiced in ancient Greece.
•
Participatory democracy is of limited
significance in modern world, where the mass
has political rights, and it would be impossible
for everyone actively participate in the making
of decisions that affect them.
Representative Democracy
Political system in which decisions affecting a
community are taken, not by its members as a
whole, but by people they have elected for this
purpose.
Liberal democracy:
countries in which voters can
choose between two or more parties and in
which the mass of the adult population has the
right to vote
Social movements
and
Political
Parties
•
Collective attempt to
further a common
interest or secure a
common goal through
action outside the
sphere of established
institutions.
The Difference between social movements
and political parties
Social movements
: Enduring collective attempts
to change part or all of social order by means of
rioting, petitioning, striking, demonstrating, and
establishing pressure groups, and unions.
Political parties
: Organizations that seek to
control state power.
Politics encompasses the use of power to influence government activities, extending beyond to organizations and social movements. Power, as defined by Max Weber, refers to the realization of one's will despite resistance. Authority signifies accepted power that people agree to follow, often linked with respect. Max Weber's typology classifies authority into traditional, charismatic, and rational-legal types. It explores how government functions within the sphere of political power.
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Presentation Transcript
Politics, Government and Social Movements Basics of Sociology-IRD115 Ishik University Department of International Relations and Diplomacy
Politics Means whereby power is used to affect the scope and content of government activities. Politics extends beyond government to include organizations and social movements that pursue political goals.
Power Max Weber: the chance of a man or a number of men to realize their own will in a command action even against the resistance of others who are participating in the action
Authority Authority power that is, power that people agree to follow. People listen to authority figures because they feel that these individuals are worthy of respect. refers to accepted
Class exercise: Give example for people who have authority/ power!
Max Weber and Typology of Authority/power Power Rational- legal Traditional Charismatic
1- Traditional power A legitimatized through respect for long-established cultural patterns. e.g power in a tribal structure power
2- Charismatic Charismatic: it is drawn from the devotion felt towards a his/her who believe that the leader exceptional that inspire devotion. leader subordinates by possesses qualities
3- Rational-Legal Rational-legal: power that is legitimized through legally rules and Power in positions or offices not people. that is enacted regulations. particular
Government and Nation-state the government is the scope of political power. All political life is about power: who holds it? How they achieve it and what they do with it. sphere of
Nation-state states in which great mass of consists of citizens who regard themselves part of a single nation. Key characteristics of nation-states are: population as
Characteristics of Nation-states Sovereignty: government possesses authority over an area with a clear-cut border, within which it is a super power. Citizenship: people who are living within the borders of a political system are citizens, having common rights and duties and regarding themselves as part of a nation. Nationalism: set of symbols and beliefs providing the sense of being part of a single political community. Thus, individuals feel a sense of pride and belonging in being British, Canadian and so on.
Forms of Government 1- Monarchy a monarchy is a government in which a single person (a monarch) rules until he or she dies or abdicates the throne. Usually, a monarch claims the rights to the title by way succession or as a result of some sort of divine appointment or calling. of hereditary
Absolute vs. ceremonial Monarchies constitutional monarchies: nations that recognize monarchs but require these figures to abide by the laws of a greater constitution. governments of
2- Oligarchy The power in an oligarchy is held by a small, elite group. Unlike in a monarchy, members of an oligarchy do not necessarily achieve their statuses based on ties to noble ancestry. Rather, they may ascend to positions of power military might, economic power, or similar circumstances. because of
3- Dictatorship Power in a dictatorship is held by a single person (or a very small group) that wields complete and authority over a government and population. Like some absolute dictatorships may be corrupt and seek to limit or even eradicate the liberties of the general population. absolute monarchies,
4- Democracy democracy government that strives to provide all citizens with an equal voice, or vote, in determining state policy, regardless of socioeconomic important fundamental democratic state establishment and governance of a just and constitution that roles and responsibilities of leaders and citizens alike. A is a form of their status. level Another of is of the the comprehensive delineates the
Forms of Democracy: Participatory Democracy Vs. Representative Democracy
Participatory Democracy Decisions are made communally by those affected by them. This was the original type of democracy practiced in ancient Greece. Participatory democracy significance in modern world, where the mass has political rights, and it would be impossible for everyone actively participate in the making of decisions that affect them. is of limited
Representative Democracy Political system in which decisions affecting a community are taken, not by its members as a whole, but by people they have elected for this purpose. Liberal democracy: countries in which voters can choose between two or more parties and in which the mass of the adult population has the right to vote
Social movements and Political Parties Collective further interest common goal through action outside sphere of institutions. attempt common secure to a or a the established
The Difference between social movements and political parties Social movements: Enduring collective attempts to change part or all of social order by means of rioting, petitioning, striking, demonstrating, and establishing pressure groups, and unions. Political parties: Organizations that seek to control state power.
