Power, Leadership and Legitimacy

Theories of Power in Government

Power vs. LeadershipPower• A resource that forces and compels others to do what you want them to. There is a punishment involved for not following• Power is FORMAL (has a source) and STATIC (remains unchanged over time)

Leadership• A resources that convinces others to do what you want them to. • Leadership is INFORMAL (no written source) and DYNAMIC (changes based on individual and situation)

Power Activity1. Define Power

2. What are some sources of power?

3. How does one exercise power?

4. How does power relate to authority?

5. Who is the most powerful person in• The world?• The United States?• Rosemead?• Bosco Tech?• This class (not including the teacher)?

Who has the right to have power?

• The number one question surrounding the use of power throughout history has been legitimacy.• Legitimacy refers to the “RIGHT” to have and use

power.• What makes something or somebody “legitimate?”• Traditional: Based on established beliefs and

values• Legal-Rational: Based on formal agreements (i.e.

Constitution, laws)• Charismatic: Based on extraordinary

abilities/qualities of the leader

Legitimacy is Often Questioned

Types of Government (Aristotle)

Good Bad

One Monarchy Tyranny

Few Aristocracy Oligarchy

Many Polity Democracy

The Macro Political Spectrum

Radical Liberal ModerateConservati

veReactionary

Anarchy Con. Democracy Mixed Gov. Authoritarian Totalitarian

As we move from left to right on the scale what increases?

As we move from right to left on the scale what increases?

ControlFreedom

Government Control

Individual Freedom

Legal-Rational

Traditional

Types of Democracy

Democracy

Direct Democracy Representative Democracy

A system in which the people hold sovereignty and make

decisions directly

An indirect democracy where sovereignty is held by

representatives elected by the people

How is political power distributed?

•Majoritarian politics: Concept where nearly everyone has a say in making a decision (Will of the majority)•Elitist politics: Concept where decisions are made by groups with a disproportionate amount of some valuable resource

Elitist Theories

•Elitist Power Theory (C. Wright Mills)•Marxist Theory (Karl Marx)•Bureaucratic Theory (Max Weber)•Pluralist Theory•Hyperpluralist Theory

Explaining Influence of Elites

Elitist Power (C Wright Mills):

• Coalition of corporations, military, and government officials dominate political power & make decisions on their behalf--iron triangles

• Many would add media chiefs & labor officials to the coalition—issues network

• Proof? Examples?

Explaining Influence of Elites

Pluralist:

• No single elite dominates politics; resources are too widely spread out; too many institutions• Many groups compete with each other for control over policy• Multiple access points to government• Policy is the outcome of political haggling, compromise, & shifting

alliances among groups

• Proof? Examples?

Explaining Influence of Elites

Hyperpluralism:

• No single elite dominates politics; resources are too widely spread out; too many institutions• Groups have gotten so powerful that they actually have weakened the

government• Groups control the policy and prevent government from taking any

action• Policy is the outcome of political haggling, compromise, & shifting

alliances among groups• Difficulty in coordinating policy implementation• Confusing and contradictory policies result from politicians trying to

placate every group

• Proof? Examples?