Weber analysis, Power and Authority, Social Science

1. Classification of weber
analysis

2. Traditional authorityThe legitimacy of traditional authority
comes from traditions and customs. Weber describes this
system as the “authority of the eternal yesterday.”A good
example of a traditional authority system would be a monarchy.
Most governments throughout history have led according to
this form of authority.In this form of domination, subordinates
accept the type of authority. They refrain from challenging the
traditional rights of a powerful group or individual.Weber
believed that traditional authority creates and preserves
inequalities. If this authority is not challenged, the leader will
stay in power indefinitely.
Traditional Authority

3. Charismatic Authority
Charismatic authority is an interesting case because its
success is not reliant on external formal structures or norms,
as is the case with the other two forms of authority. Because
of this, power structures that rely on charismatic leaders to
succeed may dissolve should the leader die or leave. Because
of this, succession planning is key and there needs to be a
process to ‘transfer’ perceptions of charisma from one person
to another for the incoming leader’s charisma to be accepted.

4. Legal Authority
the concept of rational-legal domination comes from Max
Weber's tripartite classification of authority (one of several
classifications of government used by sociologists); the
other two forms being traditional authority and charismatic
authority. All of those three domination types represent an
example of his ideal type concept. Weber noted that in
history those ideal types of domination are always found in
combinations. Finally, rational-legal authority derives its
powers from the system of bureaucracy and legality.