1. Key Concepts: Power, Authority, Legitimacy

2. This week 1. Method: How to do readings & How to take class notes 2. Power and its forms 3. Authority and legitimacy

3. Defining “power”

4. Power is a social relation It involves at least two actors, A and B, who are in a relationship It involves at least two actors, A and B, who are in a relationship It can be It can be  equally distributed  unequally distributed Actors may possess Actors may possess different forms of power Actors can be individuals Actors can be individuals or groups

5. Two basic definitions of power The capacity of actor A to make actor B do what actor B would not otherwise do The capacity of actor A to make actor B do what actor B would not otherwise do A better definition: the capacity to affect the outcome of a social interaction A better definition: the capacity to affect the outcome of a social interaction A third, totally different, kind of power!

6. Forms of power Power Coercion(force)Influence PersuasionManipulation

7. “Hard” power “Hard” power  threat to use force  actual use of force The use of negative sanctions The use of negative sanctions Pain or punishment inflicted Pain or punishment inflicted  by actor A, who possesses power ... to actor B, who has less power Coercion

8. Influence: general remarks No threat or use of force No threat or use of force Most common form of power Most common form of power  political speeches  journalism, media & advertising  interpersonal relations  classrooms Most effective form of power Most effective form of power Esp. important when coercion is not possible Esp. important when coercion is not possible

9. Influence 1: Persuasion Actor A is sincere Actor A is sincere The “force of the better argument” The “force of the better argument”  explanations  examples/illustrations  justifications Some obstacles Some obstacles  access to knowledge to make a case  access to the audience  capacity of the audience to understand “Eat your broccoli; it’s good for you!”

10. Influence 2: Manipulation Actor A conceals true intentions Actor A conceals true intentions  lying  real reasons not given Lack of informed consent by actor B Lack of informed consent by actor B Some ambiguous situations Some ambiguous situations  public relations (industry)  spin  partial truths (selective truths)  manipulation for the good of others

11. The complexity of power relations

12. Do intentions matter? Yes: intended effect(s) Actor A wants something from actor B Actor A wants something from actor B and thus uses power consciously to effect a change in the behaviour of actor B and thus uses power consciously to effect a change in the behaviour of actor B No: unintended effect(s) Actor A’s presence causes a change in the behaviour of actor B Actor A’s presence causes a change in the behaviour of actor B therefore actor A has power therefore actor A has power even if actor A has no wish to influence actor B even if actor A has no wish to influence actor B Some relevant factors –the history of the social relation –the tendency of some people inside some groups, etc. to dominate others

13. Latent power vs. manifest power Having power vs. exercising power Having power vs. exercising power Does actor B expect actor A to use his/her power? Does actor B expect actor A to use his/her power? Does actor B therefore behave differently because of the expectation? Does actor B therefore behave differently because of the expectation? Latent power Having the capacity to exercise it but not doing it. Perhaps not even thinking about it. Manifest power Using it or expressing the intention to use it.

14. Structural power The power of the actors to shape the social environment The power of the actors to shape the social environment The capacity to set the agenda The capacity to set the agenda The capacity to shape the choices and opportunities of others The capacity to shape the choices and opportunities of others The capacity to determine the rules of the game The capacity to determine the rules of the game “Living next to the United States is a little like sleeping with an elephant. You always wonder if they will roll over on you.” --Pierre Elliott Trudeau

15. Power vs. empowerment domination vs. collaboration Power over someone Vertical (hierarchical, top-down) relationVertical (hierarchical, top-down) relation ControlControl Power to achieve something Horizontal, collective, and cooperative effortHorizontal, collective, and cooperative effort Mutual enablingMutual enabling

16. “Ipsa scientia potestas est” Francis Bacon, 1561-1626... or a source of power... or a source of power Acquiring the knowledge Acquiring the knowledge  to name objects (define things)… name  or persuade…  or manipulate…  or coerce Or work together to achieve a goal… Or work together to achieve a goal… Or adapt… Or adapt… Or prevent Or prevent Francis Bacon, Meditationes Sacrae (1597)

17. Authority and legitimacy Max Weber, 1864-1920

18. Explaining obedience & conformity Most people obey commands most of the time Most people obey commands most of the time Most people conform to expectations & prevailing ideas Most people conform to expectations & prevailing ideas They grant authority & legitimacy to rulers (and others) They grant authority & legitimacy to rulers (and others)

19. Authority & legitimacy Authority: person, group or institution that exercises power Legitimacy: recognition that it is proper for a person, group or institution to rule. Appropriateness of obedience to them Legitimate authority: person, group or institution whose rule & opinions we accept

20. Source of legitimate authority 1: Tradition A movie about tradition & challenges to it A movie about tradition & challenges to it Some traditional authorities Elders Elders Fathers/men Fathers/men Kings/queens Kings/queens Mothers/women Mothers/women Parents Parents Religious leaders Religious leaders Teachers/professors Teachers/professors The wealthy The wealthy Institutions & ways of acting Origins not always known “It’s always been this way” Sceptical of change Stability of system: rules of succession

21. Source of legitimate authority 2: Charisma Always a person Perception of unique qualities  supernatural  engaging personality  unique competence Can be cultivated & scripted Unstable: falls out of favour or no replacement after death

22. Some rational-legal authorities Democratically-elected rulers Democratically-elected rulers Employees in bureaucratic organizations Employees in bureaucratic organizations Experts of all kinds Experts of all kinds Source of legitimate authority 3: rationality & legality Authority based on rules & procedures Based rationality  means-ends logic  evidence-based decisions Obedience to rules, not persons  leaders constrained by rules  chosen by process Stability of system: rules & procedures are clean & known

23. Authority in action: Two studies

24. Milgram’s Behavioural Study of Obedience (1961-1963) Research questions  how could Germans support Adolf Hitler?  how many people will act violently when required to do so?  how far will people go? Predictions of US psychologists: only 1% Original experiment (at Yale University) Original experiment Repeat experiment (in 2009 in UK) Repeat experiment

25. Stanford Prison Experiment (1971) Research question  how do people act when put in specific circumstances?  can “normal”/“regular”/“good” people do evil things  can the power of the situation transform people? Participants chosen were “normal” Participants got caught up in the experiment  prisoners broke down psychologically  guards ever more cruel

26. In conclusion Those who wield power according to one of these models are legitimate authorities Those who wield power according to one of these models are legitimate authorities Most people obey authorities even to the point of doing moral wrongs Most people obey authorities even to the point of doing moral wrongs Next week… Political ideologies –values desirable in society –conceptions of the good life –blueprint for organizing social life