Max Weber: “The Types of Legitimate Domination”

1. Max Weber: “The Types of Legitimate Domination” Dan Ryan – Fall 2010

2. Domination = probability command(s) will be obeyed. Subtype of power and influence. Wide variation in basis. Always a measure of “voluntary compliance” • D of groups takes staff. Staff obey from custom, affect, pay, or ideals & this determines type of domination. But legitimacy also needed. • D rarely relies on custom, affect, or pay alone. Everything about social organization of D seems to depend on basis of legitimacy claim.

3. Legitimacy • http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legitimacy_%28political%29

4. Legitimacy is a reasonable basis for classifying types of domination. • Authority relationship is a broad category. • Mere “power over” not same as authority. A involves command and obedience. But there are gradations in real world. • People obey for different “real” reasons. What’s important is how basis for validity of authority is related to “means of its exercise.”

5. Even in regime with no legitimacy vis a vis subjects, authority relation between leader and staff will be classifiable. • Obedience = action follows content of command without regard to actor’s own stance. • Subjective process in actor not relevant here.

6. Effects of domination as social phenomenon extend throughout society. • Ideology of “leader as servant” does not change this analysis. • Three types of basis for legitimate authority: rational; traditional; charismatic. • Rational = legal authority based on rules.

7. Traditional = based on belief in sanctity of “the way it’s always been done.” • Charismatic = based on exceptional character of an individual • Variations across types in person obeyed and what determines range of things covered.

8. Influence Power Authority