(SumBlog 4) Three Forms of Authority

Max Weber distinguishes three types of authority that are present in society. These are traditional, rational, and charismatic.

 

Traditional authority is the belief that leaders have a traditional and legitimate right to exercise authority, where different traditional circumstances enable and legitimize those in command to exercise authority.

This traditional authority consisted of a type of patriarchal and feudalistic systems and societies. These systems are however dependent upon the followers' acceptance of this authority, and that the followers see this type of authority as legitimate.

Rational is the belief in the "legality" of formal rules and hierarchies.An example of this would be the law. This type of authority is often seen as legitimate in bureaucratic systems. People will find this type of authority legitimate, if the authority is distributed to leaders based on e.g. rationality and capability. Rational is also starting to replace traditional authority.

Charismatic authority rests on the belief that a heroic or exemplary character expresses issued by him or her. Charismatic leaders are often seen as legitimate in times of crisis or change when extraordinary leadership is called for, and when this extraordinary leadership is recognized in the specific authorial figure by followers.They tend to be good speakers and can gather large groups based on speeches. An example would be Martin Luther King Jr. and Gandhi. 

Overall, these types of society shape how people act and also the way people respond to certain issues.