Introduction to Political Science (POL 101)
Lecture 02:
The Concept of ‘Power’ in Political Science
Typologies and Theories of Power
Concepts of ‘Authority’ & ‘Legitimacy’ in Political Science
Dr. Noor Mohammad Sarker
Assistant Professor
Department of Political Science and Sociology
North South University, Dhaka
Email: noor.sarker@northsouth.edu
Introduction
Politics is about Power [Niccolo Machiavelli]
Politics is nothing other than the pursuit and exercise of power
Emphasis on Political Power
Political relations are mainly power relations.
Since the beginning of the 20th Century, the concept of ‘power’
occupied a major position in the study of Political Science
The concept altered the meaning of politics in dramatic way and
made it appear like ‘contest for power’
The Concept of ‘Power’ in Political Science
In the study of Political Science, ‘power’ is a psycho-political
phenomenon.
In simple sense it is the capacity of the person/group/institution to
affect / change/ modify the behaviour of other
person/group/institution.
In this sense it is the capacity to influence the behaviour of others.
This influence is not voluntary and not readily accepted by those
over whom it is applied.
Hence Power is the capacity of one to impose its will over others
irrespective of the will of others.
Basic Elements of ‘Power’
Force:
◦ Instrument of Power
◦ It is the explicit threat or instruments of coercion by Actor A against
Actor B in pursuit of A’s political objectives.
Influence:
◦ The Outcome of Power
◦ It is the use of instruments of persuasion short of force by Actor A to
maintain or alter the behavior of Actor B in a fashion suitable to the
preferences of Actor A.
Authority:
◦ Legitimized form of Power
◦ Actor B voluntary compliance with directives (prescriptions, orders)
issued by Actor A, nurtured by B perceptions regarding A-a such as
respect, solidarity, affection, affinity, leadership, knowledge, expertise.
Typology of ‘Power’ in Political Science
Forms of Power
Measurable Mostly
Tangible Resources
/Identifiable Quantitative
Immeasurable/ Mostly
Intangible Qualities
non-identifiable Qualitative
Types of the ‘Tangible’ Form of Power
Money
◦ Money can be translated into any form of power
Military
◦ Big armies
◦ Advanced weapons
Social Status
◦ parameters of gender, class, caste, clan, and race
Numerical Strength
◦ Determines the power of the party/ organization
Quality of Human Resource
◦ Skilled/ Unskilled/ Semi-skilled
Types of the ‘Intangible’ Form of Power
Leadership:
◦ Strong and resourceful leader
Winston Churchill during Second World War;
Abraham Lincon during American Civil War
Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman during the Liberation War of
Bangladesh.
Decision-making:
◦ Right decisions at right time save resources and energy
Negotiation:
◦ Skilful negotiation can change the course of history at any
moment.
Propaganda:
◦ Power to manipulate the mind of the people.
Theories of ‘Power’ in Political Science
Theories of Power Power belongs to…
Liberal Theory People
Marxist Theory Rich Class
Elitist Theory Elite Class
Pluralist Theory Pressure Group
Liberal Theory of Power
In a society power lies with the people.
It is not the state, but the people possess the supreme authority of
power
Freedom of the people gets the most importance
Freedom ensures rights.
When freedom does its work, it creates a self-reinforcing cycle.
◦ Free speech and freedom of association, for example, empower civil
society, and the private organizations that grow up on that basis can then
use their power to sustain their rights.
Marxist Theory of Power
There are two classes in each society:
◦ Rich (haves)
◦ Poor (have-nots)
The rich class is the dominant class, economically, and owns the
means of production.
The rich class possess social, political, and ideological power in
society.
The rich class is the ruling class.
The poor class is economically weaker and they are exploited socially,
politically and economically.
The rich class makes use of the state as an instrument to maintain
their dominant status.
Elite Theory of Power
In each society (Political System), a
small group of persons/ the elite
group, holds power.
They are responsible for making
society’s decisions and rules.
Even in a democratic state, the
power lies in the hands of the
elected elite.
It is not just because they’re well
organised but also because they have
some special qualities, such as
knowledge, wealth, social status,
ruling ability, or skill.
Pluralist Theory of Power
The power lies with pressure
groups or interest groups in a
democracy.
The government might be an
active participant, but it is an
impartial participant. So that….
◦ No group acquires undue influence
◦ The needs and interests of the
citizens are secured
The term ‘Authority’ in Political Science
Origin of the Term
◦ The term Authority is derived from the Latin words: auctor
and auctoritas.
◦ An auctor is an Originator of promoter of some order,
pronouncement or whatever.
The term ‘Authority’ in Political Science
Key Definitional Characteristics of the term ‘Authority’
Legitimacy:
◦ Legitimacy determines the effectiveness and acceptance of authority.
Dominance:
◦ Authority is the capacity of the individual to command others.
◦ Authority is command of seniors to their juniors which is accepted by
them.
Accountability:
◦ The individual or the group which possesses authority is also answerable
to some higher authority.
◦ In a democracy, responsibility or accountability is an important
characteristic of authority.
Typology of ‘Authority’
Max Weber describes three types of political authority as per their sources:
Traditional Authority:
◦ When the power to issue commands emerges from the source of customs
and traditions
◦ It derives from long-established customs, habits and social structures.
◦ Example: monarchy in Brunei/ Brunei Sultanate (the eldest will be the
ruler)
Legal-rational Authority:
◦ Rule is legitimized by the legal-constitutional framework
◦ Example: Political authority through constitution.
Charismatic Authority:
◦ It is derived from ‘the gift of grace’ a ‘higher power’ that is superior to
both the validity of traditional and rational-legal authority.
◦ Example: the supreme religious leadership in Iran.
Differences between ‘Power’ and ‘Authority’
Source: Mahesh Jaiwantrao Patil (2017)
The Concept of ‘Legitimacy’ in Political Science
Legitimacy is derived from the term ‘legitimate’ which means
‘allowed by the law or rules’.
In the study of political science, legitimacy is the property that
a regime’s procedures for making and enforcing laws are
acceptable to its subjects.
Legitimacy of a rule or decision implies that the members of
society treat that rule or decision as beneficial to society as
well as to themselves, so that, they willingly tend to abide by it.
The Concept of ‘Legitimacy’ in Political Science
The legitimacy in Scandinavian countries, such as, Sweden, Norway
is very high; little forces are needed.
In contrast, In North Korea or Iraq, much coercion is needed
because of the lack of legitimacy of the authority.
Typology of Legitimacy
David Easton refers to three types of legitimacy:
Ideological legitimacy: When the source of legitimacy is the
ideology prevailing in the society, it is called ideological legitimacy.
Structural legitimacy: Structural legitimacy is based on an
independent belief in the validity of the structure and norms and
incumbents of the authority.
Personal legitimacy: Personal legitimacy is based on the belief in
the validity of the incumbents of authority roles to the authority
roles themselves. The belief in the validity of authorities is based
on their personal qualities.
Sources of Legitimacy
Reference: Louis Lebel, Albert Salamanca and Chalisa Kallayanamitra, “The governance of adaptation financing:
pursuing legitimacy at multiple levels,” International Journal of Global Warming, Vol. 11, No. 2, 2017, pp.226-245.
