Unit
II
Authority - Nature and
Type; Authority and Legitimacy
Introduction:
The concept of authority is very closely
related to power full. In fact, authority is legitimate power. The exercise of
power as authority is the Hallmark of every democratic political system.
Authority is currently the most important and productive source of power.
Definition
The
word authority has been derived from the Latin word 'Auctoritas'. Authority means power characterised by legitimacy and
rightfulness.
According to MacIver,
“Authority is often defined as being power, the power to command obedience.
According to Beach,
"Authority is the legitimate right to direct or influence the work of
others.”
According
to Robert Dahl, “Legitimate power or influence is generally called
authority."
Nature
1. Authority is legitimate power;
It is the legitimate recognise and accepted power of the authority holder. It
is back by the constitutions of the state or laws of the state or customs or
tradition.
2. Authority is relationship;
Like every other relationship, Authority
involves a minimum of two actors one of whom has the recognised power or right
to use power over the other and the other upon whom this power is exercised.
3. Authority is recognised power;
The subject recognised the right in legitimacy of the authority holder to use
his power and considered it as their duty to obey his commands.
4. Authority commands obedience:
An authority holder enjoys dominance over his subject. He can command
obedience.
5. Authority is alway defined, limited
and recognised : It is defined either by the
constitution or law or tradition or convention. It's scope is always defined.
Kind/ Types of
Authority
On
the basis of the main source of the power exercised by the authority holder.
Several kinds of authority are identified by the social scientist:
1. Traditional Authority: Authority based on customs and conventions is
called traditional authority. The
authority of a village elder is a traditional authority.
2. Constitutional Authority:
The legitimate power vested by the constitutions of a state in an office or an
institution is called constitution Authority.
3. Legal Authority:
Power conferred upon a person or an office by the laws of the state is called a
Legal Authority.
4. Legitimate Authority:
The term legitimate authority is quite a misnomer. Authority is only authority
only when it is legitimate and enjoys the confidence and recognition of the
people as a legitimate or rightfulness power.
5. Religion Authority:
Authority sanctified by the tenet of the religion is called religious
authority. The authority of the Head Priest of Sri Akal Takhat is a religions
authority.
6. Charismatic
authority; Activity based upon the Personal qualities. The
personality of the person's welding power of the people is called charismatic
authority. Charisma means charms or personal power, the ability to inspire
loyalty and even devotion in others.
7. Political
authority; The power resulting from the status n stature of a person in the
hierarchy of a political party or a group is political authority. For example
authority of the Congress President and the authority of the president of BJP
and etc.
Authority and
legitimacy
1. Authority and legitimacy are
inseparable twins; There cannot be authority without
legitimacy that is recognition on the part of the people upon whom the
authority is exercised. The people recognise that the power being used, decisions or commands being enforced by the
authority holder is just and beneficial for them.
2. Legitimacy transform power into authority;
legitimacy without authority only remains a wishful thinking. It only exist
assess the idea of rightfulness and justness or moral or rational principle. It
is only when it gets combine with authority that it believes to decision,
command and action which are held to be right.
3. Authority without legitimacy is
power; Power is a legal power or capacity. It may or may
not enjoy a popular recognition and acceptance as a just and rightful
power. legitimacy alone can secure and
guarantee the acceptance and obedience of power as authority.
4. Which legitimacy is a source of
weakness for the authority; absence of legitimacy reduces
authority to power. Legitimacy ensures acceptance, obedience and respect of
authority and productive of desired result.
The
people willingly obey the laws, policies decision and plans formulated and
enforced by the power holders of a democratic state because these enjoy a
strong legitimacy.
Hence,
legitimacy and authority are intimately related and the former is successful
only when its enjoys a high level of legitimacy. In a democratic political
system, election is the process by which the power holder gets their legitimate
power, that is political authority to exercise the power to rule the state for
next few years.
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