Key Concepts:Key Concepts:Power, Authority, LegitimacyPower, Authority, Legitimacy

This weekThis week

1.1. Method: How to do readings & How Method: How to do readings & How to take class notesto take class notes

2.2. Power and its formsPower and its forms

3.3. Authority and legitimacyAuthority and legitimacy

Defining “power”Defining “power”

Power is a social relationPower is a social relation

It involves at least two actors, It involves at least two actors, AA and and BB, who , who are in a relationshipare in a relationship

It can beIt can be equally distributedequally distributed unequally distributedunequally distributed

Actors may possess Actors may possess

different forms of powerdifferent forms of power Actors can be Actors can be individualsindividuals

oror groupsgroups

Two basic definitions of powerTwo basic definitions of power

The capacity of The capacity of actor Aactor A to to make make actor Bactor B do what do what actor Bactor B would not otherwise dowould not otherwise do

A better definition: the capacity A better definition: the capacity to affect the outcome of a to affect the outcome of a social interactionsocial interaction

A third, totally different, kind of power!A third, totally different, kind of power!

Forms of powerForms of power

PowerPower

CoercionCoercion(force)(force)

InfluenceInfluence

PersuasionPersuasion ManipulationManipulation

““Hard” power Hard” power threat to use forcethreat to use force actual use of forceactual use of force

The use of negative sanctionsThe use of negative sanctions Pain or punishment inflicted Pain or punishment inflicted

by by actor Aactor A, who possesses power, who possesses power ... to ... to actor Bactor B, who has less power, who has less power

CoercionCoercion

Influence: general remarksInfluence: general remarks

No threat or use of forceNo threat or use of force

Most common form of powerMost common form of power political speechespolitical speeches journalism, media & advertisingjournalism, media & advertising interpersonal relationsinterpersonal relations classroomsclassrooms

Most effective form of powerMost effective form of power

Esp. important when coercion is not possibleEsp. important when coercion is not possible

Influence 1: PersuasionInfluence 1: Persuasion Actor AActor A is sincere is sincere The “force of the better argument”The “force of the better argument”

explanationsexplanations examples/illustrationsexamples/illustrations justificationsjustifications

Some obstaclesSome obstacles access to knowledge to make a caseaccess to knowledge to make a case access to the audienceaccess to the audience capacity of the audience to understandcapacity of the audience to understand

““Eat your broccoli; Eat your broccoli; it’s good for you!”it’s good for you!”

Influence 2: ManipulationInfluence 2: Manipulation

Actor AActor A conceals true intentions conceals true intentions lying lying real reasons not givenreal reasons not given

Lack of informed consent by Lack of informed consent by actor B actor B

Some ambiguous situationsSome ambiguous situations public relations (industry)public relations (industry) spinspin partial truths (selective truths)partial truths (selective truths) manipulation for the good of othersmanipulation for the good of others

The complexityThe complexityof power relationsof power relations

Do intentions matter?Do intentions matter?

Yes: intended effect(s)Yes: intended effect(s) Actor AActor A wants something wants something

from from actor Bactor B and thus and thus usesuses power power

consciously to effect a consciously to effect a change in the behaviour change in the behaviour of of actor B actor B

No: unintended effect(s)No: unintended effect(s) Actor AActor A’s presence causes ’s presence causes

a change in the behaviour a change in the behaviour of of actor Bactor B

thereforetherefore actor Aactor A has has powerpower

even if even if actor Aactor A has no has no wish to influence wish to influence actor B actor B

Some relevant factorsSome relevant factors– the history of the social relationthe history of the social relation– the tendency of some people inside some the tendency of some people inside some

groups, etc. to dominate others groups, etc. to dominate others

Latent power vs. manifest powerLatent power vs. manifest power

HavingHaving power vs. power vs. exercising exercising powerpower

Does Does actor Bactor B expect expect actor Aactor A to use his/her to use his/her power?power?

Does Does actor Bactor B therefore behave differently therefore behave differently because of the expectation?because of the expectation?

Latent powerLatent powerHaving the capacityHaving the capacityto exercise it but not doing it.to exercise it but not doing it.Perhaps not even thinking Perhaps not even thinking about it.about it.

Manifest powerManifest powerUsing it or expressing Using it or expressing the intention to use it.the intention to use it.

Structural powerStructural power

The power of the actors to shape the social The power of the actors to shape the social environmentenvironment

The capacity to set the agendaThe capacity to set the agenda

The capacity to shape the choices and The capacity to shape the choices and opportunities of othersopportunities of others

The capacity to determine the rules of the gameThe capacity to determine the rules of the game

“Living next to the United States is a little like sleeping with an elephant. You always wonder if they will roll over on you.”--Pierre Elliott Trudeau

Power vs. empowermentPower vs. empowerment

domination vs. collaborationdomination vs. collaboration

Power Power overover someone someone• Vertical (hierarchical, Vertical (hierarchical,

top-down) relationtop-down) relation• ControlControl

Power Power toto achieve something achieve something• Horizontal, collective, and Horizontal, collective, and

cooperative effortcooperative effort• Mutual enablingMutual enabling

““Ipsa scientia potestas est”Ipsa scientia potestas est”

Francis Bacon, 1561-1626

... or ... or a source ofa source of power power Acquiring the knowledgeAcquiring the knowledge

to name objects (define things)…to name objects (define things)… or persuade…or persuade… or manipulate…or manipulate… or coerceor coerce

Or work together to achieve a goal…Or work together to achieve a goal… Or adapt…Or adapt… Or preventOr prevent

Francis Bacon, Francis Bacon, Meditationes Sacrae Meditationes Sacrae (1597)(1597)

Authority Authority and legitimacyand legitimacy

Max Weber, 1864-1920

Explaining obedience & conformityExplaining obedience & conformity

Most people obey commands most of the Most people obey commands most of the timetime

Most people conform to expectations & Most people conform to expectations & prevailing ideasprevailing ideas

They grant authority & legitimacy to rulers They grant authority & legitimacy to rulers (and others)(and others)

Authority & legitimacyAuthority & legitimacy

Authority: person, group or institution that exercises power

Legitimacy: recognition that it is proper for a person, group or institution to rule. Appropriateness of obedience to them

Legitimate authority: person, group or institution whose rule & opinions we accept

Source of legitimate authority 1:Source of legitimate authority 1:TraditionTradition

A movie about tradition A movie about tradition & challenges to it & challenges to it

Some traditional authoritiesSome traditional authorities•EldersElders•Fathers/menFathers/men•Kings/queensKings/queens•Mothers/womenMothers/women•ParentsParents•Religious leadersReligious leaders•Teachers/professorsTeachers/professors•The wealthyThe wealthy

Institutions & ways of acting

Origins not always known

“It’s always been this way”

Sceptical of change

Stability of system: rules of succession

Source of legitimate authority Source of legitimate authority 2:2:CharismaCharisma Always a person Perception of unique qualities

supernatural engaging personality unique competence

Can be cultivated & scripted Unstable: falls out of favour or no

replacement after death

Some rational-legal authoritiesSome rational-legal authorities•Democratically-elected rulersDemocratically-elected rulers•Employees in bureaucratic Employees in bureaucratic organizationsorganizations•Experts of all kindsExperts of all kinds

Source of legitimate authority 3:Source of legitimate authority 3:rationality & legalityrationality & legality Authority based on rules & procedures Based rationality

means-ends logic evidence-based decisions

Obedience to rules, not persons leaders constrained by rules chosen by process

Stability of system: rules & procedures are clean & known

Authority in action: Two studiesAuthority in action: Two studies

Milgram’s Behavioural Study of Milgram’s Behavioural Study of Obedience (1961-1963)Obedience (1961-1963) Research questions

how could Germans support Adolf Hitler? how many people will act violently when required

to do so? how far will people go?

Predictions of US psychologists: only 1% Original experiment (at Yale University) Repeat experiment (in 2009 in UK)

Stanford Prison Experiment (1971)Stanford Prison Experiment (1971)

Research question how do people act when put in specific

circumstances? can “normal”/“regular”/“good” people do evil things can the power of the situation transform people?

Participants chosen were “normal” Participants got caught up in the experiment

prisoners broke down psychologically guards ever more cruel

In conclusionIn conclusion

Those who wield Those who wield powerpower according to one of according to one of these models are these models are legitimate authoritieslegitimate authorities

Most people obey authorities even to the Most people obey authorities even to the point of doing moral wrongspoint of doing moral wrongs

Next week…Next week…Political ideologiesPolitical ideologies– values desirable in societyvalues desirable in society– conceptions of the good lifeconceptions of the good life– blueprint for organizing social lifeblueprint for organizing social life