Authority

Questions surrounding the topic of authority have long interested sociologists. Who has it? Where is it derived from? What kinds are there? How is it exercised?

Max Weber was interested in the concept of authority and how it related to what he perceived to be the increasing rationalization of society. He saw authority as the legitimate form of domination (there were illegitimate forms as well), which he defined as the “probability that certain specific commands (or all commands) will be obeyed by a given group of persons” (Weber [1921] 1968:212). He outlined three basic types of authority: traditional, charismatic, and rational-legal. Traditional authority is based on a historical precedent and the idea that one should rule because of a long-standing belief system. Charismatic authority is derived from the extraordinary skills or characteristics of the leader, or at least the perception of them by followers. Rational-legal authority, the one most interesting to Weber, is possible only in the modern world and is based on a set of rational rules that are formally enacted. This type of authority represents the most highly bureaucratized, and its increasing presence speaks to Weber's theory of the increasing rationalization of society.

A conflict theorist interested in issues of authority was Ralf Dahrendorf (1959). He argued that authority was derived from social positions, rather than the characteristics [Page 20]of individuals. In particular, Dahrendorf was interested in the conflicts between these macrosociologically determined social positions. Authority, to Dahrendorf, implied both superordination and subordination. Hence, those who are in positions of authority rule because of the expectation of their positions and those around them, not because of any internal personal characteristics. Since authority is found in the position, however, those who do not comply with role expectations are subject to scrutiny and removal.

Dahrendorf further argued that authority is not a constant. In other words, a person who possesses authority in one time or place may not possess authority in a different time or place. Furthermore, any relationship of authority is composed of exactly two interest groups. Those with authority seek to maintain things the way they are, while those lacking in authority seek change. Consequently, any position of authority is always at risk of being overthrown.