Dr. Kevin Parsneau Morris Hall 204 B Kevin.parsneau@mnsu.edu “Power and Authority” Dr. Kevin Parsneau Morris Hall 204 B Kevin.parsneau@mnsu.edu

Political Power Power: (simple definition) the capacity to affect the behavior of others through real or threatened use of rewards and/ or punishment (some people physical and psychological). Unequally distributed (based upon valued physical and psychic resources) A relationship between people (interpersonal and institutional)

Systematic Power A single individual has very little power unless they are part of a system of power and human relationships. Personal strength can only overcome so many people Money is just paper unless people recognize its symbolic value in exchange Popularity, numbers and votes only matter to the extent that organized and part of a system where they have authority and legitimacy

Systematic Power Systematic Power is exercised through “agents” Authoritarian and non-democratic leaders act through “agents” who are police, soldiers, state bureaucrats, conspiring citizens, etc. Democratic leaders also act through police, soldiers, bureaucrats, etc.

Systematic Power Citizens in a democracy act through agents who are elected officials or state officials who are in some way held responsible to the citizens. Agents have their own agendas, which are sometimes contrary to the leaders or citizens. Can citizens in a democracy be merely mechanisms to justify the actions of state agents?

Systematic Power Power that is habitually challenged or question is difficult to sustain. Systemic power requires some degree of authority and legitimacy to be sustained.

Typology of Power Positional Referent Expert Reward Coercive Informational

Typology of Power Positional: based upon the position and duties of the holder within an organization Referent: based upon the ability to attract others’ support (charisma or leadership) Expert: based upon skills or expertise and the organization's needs for those skills and expertise

Typology of Power Reward: based upon ability to distribute valued material rewards Coercive: based upon the ability to demote or to withhold other rewards Informational: based upon the potential use of informational resources

Authority Authority: Power based upon general agreement: That the person or group has the right to issue certain sorts of commands That those commands should be obeyed Authority is the “legitimate” use of power

Sources of Authority Social norms, customs and traditions Charisma or persuasion Rational-legal Ideology “Naturalism” Coercion Incentives/ disincentives

Social Norms Claims to authority can be based upon long-standing traditions and practices They may be based in religion or sacred practices and ritual The original reasons may have been lost They become a habit or part of identity that no one questions, so neither do you.

Charisma and Persuasion Some claims to authority are tied to individuals claim to being the person who should lead, particularly leaders who are highly charismatic or persuasive.

Rational-legal Argument Some claims to authority are based upon rational-legal arguments that commit leaders and followers to a set of codified rules and processes

Ideology Ideologies are integrated systems of ideas that rationalize and justify the exercise of societal power. Most make certain claims about the goals of politics and economies and the ways that they should be organized. Actions are authoritative to the extent that they are consistent with the ideology.

Naturalism Claims to authority often argue for their consistency with natural order or human nature. There are elements of naturalism in claims to tradition, charisma, rational-legal and ideology. “It’s just natural or normal”

Coercion Sometime claims to authority rely upon threats of force or the ability to apply force. Such claims are often accompanied by a claim to maintain social order and safety. It is difficult for an authority to rely solely upon coercion, and a matter of dispute whether it can be maintained indefinitely.

Incentives/ Disincentives Some claims to authority are based upon the ability to distribute rewards and punishments. Such claims are often difficult to sustain unless a society is prosperous. These claims suffer from some of the same problems as coercion.

Legitimacy Legitimacy: the belief or agreement that the exercise of power is right and proper. Legitimacy can be contested. It is least contested in stable governments and most contested in unstable countries

Sources of Legitimacy Habit Results Legitimacy “Myth”

Habit Long-standing states and their institutions gain legitimacy as people quit considering alternatives or the cost of changing becomes so high that people accept them.

Results Some claims to legitimacy are based upon achieving desired results. Efficiency: successful conversion of resources and costs into benefits and distributing the benefits creates a sense of legitimacy There is often the argument that the free market is extraordinarily efficient at producing benefits. However, it fairness or ability to adequately distribute those benefits is also questioned

Results Some claims to legitimacy are based upon achieving desired results. Fairness: treating citizens the way the society believes they should be treated creates a sense of legitimacy The basis of judging fairness is often disputed. How do we balance weight of contribution, need and equality in judging fairness?

Legitimation Myth A legitimation myth is used to claim authority based upon a shared identity and purpose. It often consists of historical, religious or ethnic identity; state religion “founding myth” that legitimizes authority.

U.S. Legitimacy Democratic Citizenship Tolerance Active Participation Informed citizenry State support