Types of Authority and Legitimation Crisis

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Questions and Answers

What is the basis of Traditional Authority?

custom, tradition, and habit

What can cause a Legitimation Crisis?

factors such as economic crisis, political corruption, social inequality, and failure to deliver on promises

What is Coercive Power based on?

force, punishment, or threat

What is the difference between Obedience and Compliance?

Obedience is following orders or instructions without questioning, while Compliance is going along with a request or demand without necessarily agreeing Signup and view all the answers

What is Cultural Hegemony?

the dominance of one culture over others Signup and view all the answers

What is the Hegemonic Struggle?

the struggle for dominance between different groups or ideologies Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary idea behind the social contract theory?

The primary idea behind the social contract theory is that people voluntarily give up some of their natural rights in exchange for protection and stability provided by a governing authority. Signup and view all the answers

According to John Locke, what is the purpose of government?

The purpose of government is to protect natural rights, and when a government fails to do so, citizens have the right to revolt. Signup and view all the answers

What is the main concept behind Karl Marx's class struggle theory?

The main concept behind Karl Marx's class struggle theory is that society is divided into competing classes with conflicting economic interests, and the ruling class uses its power to exploit the working class. Signup and view all the answers

How did Thomas Hobbes describe the state of nature?

Thomas Hobbes described the state of nature as a 'war of all against all', where life is 'solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short'. Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of collective consciousness in giving legitimacy to power, according to Émile Durkheim?

The collective consciousness is the source of social solidarity and the legitimacy of power, and it is seen as a unifying force that binds individuals together and gives legitimacy to the governing authority. Signup and view all the answers

What are the key natural rights that John Locke argued are inherent to individuals?

The key natural rights that John Locke argued are inherent to individuals are life, liberty, and property. Signup and view all the answers

What is the relationship between the ruling class and the working class, according to Karl Marx's class struggle theory?

According to Karl Marx's class struggle theory, the ruling class uses its power to exploit the working class. Signup and view all the answers

What is the significance of the state of nature in the social contract theory?

The state of nature is used to justify the need for a strong central authority and the legitimacy of power. Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of collective consciousness in society, according to Émile Durkheim?

The collective consciousness is a unifying force that binds individuals together and gives legitimacy to the governing authority. Signup and view all the answers

What is the main difference between the state of nature and a society governed by a social contract?

The main difference between the state of nature and a society governed by a social contract is that the state of nature has no governing authority or social structure, while a society governed by a social contract has a mutual agreement between citizens and the government, establishing the legitimacy of power. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Types of Authority

Traditional Authority: based on custom, tradition, and habit
Rational-Legal Authority: based on laws, rules, and regulations
Charismatic Authority: based on exceptional personal qualities, e.g. charm, vision, and leadership

Legitimation Crisis

occurs when the authority of a government or institution is questioned or challenged
can lead to a decline in obedience and a rise in opposition
caused by factors such as:
- Economic crisis
- Political corruption
- Social inequality
- Failure to deliver on promises

Power Dynamics

Power: the ability to achieve desired outcomes despite resistance
Types of Power:
- Coercive Power: based on force, punishment, or threat
- Reward Power: based on offering benefits or rewards
- Legitimate Power: based on authority, legitimacy, or social norms
- Expert Power: based on knowledge, skills, or expertise
- Referent Power: based on personal attraction, charisma, or prestige
Power Imbalance: occurs when one individual or group has more power than others

Conformity: changing one's behavior to fit in with a group
Obedience: following orders or instructions without questioning
Compliance: going along with a request or demand without necessarily agreeing
Identification: adopting the attitudes, values, or behaviors of a group or individual

Hegemony

Hegemony: the dominance of one group or ideology over others
Types of Hegemony:
- Cultural Hegemony: dominance of one culture over others
- Economic Hegemony: dominance of one economic system over others
- Political Hegemony: dominance of one political ideology or group over others
Hegemonic Struggle: the struggle for dominance between different groups or ideologies

Types of Authority

Traditional Authority is based on custom, tradition, and habit
Rational-Legal Authority is based on laws, rules, and regulations
Charismatic Authority is based on exceptional personal qualities, such as charm, vision, and leadership

Legitimation Crisis

Occurs when the authority of a government or institution is questioned or challenged
Can lead to a decline in obedience and a rise in opposition
Caused by factors such as economic crisis, political corruption, social inequality, and failure to deliver on promises

Power Dynamics

Power is the ability to achieve desired outcomes despite resistance
Types of Power:
- Coercive Power: based on force, punishment, or threat
- Reward Power: based on offering benefits or rewards
- Legitimate Power: based on authority, legitimacy, or social norms
- Expert Power: based on knowledge, skills, or expertise
- Referent Power: based on personal attraction, charisma, or prestige
Power Imbalance: occurs when one individual or group has more power than others

Conformity: changing one's behavior to fit in with a group
Obedience: following orders or instructions without questioning
Compliance: going along with a request or demand without necessarily agreeing
Identification: adopting the attitudes, values, or behaviors of a group or individual

Hegemony

Hegemony: the dominance of one group or ideology over others
Types of Hegemony:
- Cultural Hegemony: dominance of one culture over others
- Economic Hegemony: dominance of one economic system over others
- Political Hegemony: dominance of one political ideology or group over others
Hegemonic Struggle: the struggle for dominance between different groups or ideologies

Legitimacy of Power

Social contract theory proposes that individuals voluntarily give up some natural rights in exchange for protection and stability provided by a governing authority.
Thomas Hobbes and John Locke are key proponents of social contract theory, which is seen as a mutual agreement between citizens and government, establishing the legitimacy of power.

Natural Rights

Natural rights are inherent rights that belong to individuals, regardless of social or political status.
Examples of natural rights include life, liberty, and property.
Natural rights are seen as universal and inalienable, and are often used to justify the legitimacy of power.
John Locke argued that the purpose of government is to protect natural rights, and that citizens have the right to revolt when government fails to do so.

Class Struggle

The concept of class struggle proposes that society is divided into competing classes with conflicting economic interests.
Karl Marx argued that the ruling class uses its power to exploit the working class, and that the legitimacy of power is based on coercion and ideology.
Class struggle is seen as a driving force behind social and political change.

State of Nature

The state of nature is a hypothetical condition in which there is no governing authority or social structure.
Thomas Hobbes described the state of nature as a "war of all against all," where life is "solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short."
The state of nature is used to justify the need for a strong central authority and the legitimacy of power.

Collective Consciousness

Collective consciousness refers to the shared values, beliefs, and norms of a society.
Émile Durkheim argued that collective consciousness is the source of social solidarity and the legitimacy of power.
Collective consciousness is seen as a unifying force that binds individuals together and gives legitimacy to the governing authority.