Theoretical Perspectives(1) :Max Weber:Authority, Party

    Political Sociology as a young discipline began to create new concepts and theories. As a result of this the focus of the study of Political Science had shifted from legal and institutional to empirical, scientific and behavioral studies. This situation demanded the application of knowledge from different disciplines for the development of Political Sociology.   
   Although many have contributed to the growth and development of political sociology, Max Weber is considered as the founding father of political sociology. In this section we will analyses the major theoretical perspectives of the scholars who contributed much to the development of the discipline.
1_Max Weber :
   Max Weber was born in Erfurt, Germany on April 21, 1864 into a decidedly middle-class family. He was a great German Sociologist who has left a deep imprint upon Sociology. He was a deep thinker, reader and an erudite scholar. Weber was interested in the practical affairs of government and politics. His initial studies were in the fields of law and legal history. He also made contributions in Arts and Social Sciences. His life may be said to have been equally divided between science and politics .
 2_ Authority :
A_Definition of Authority :
  Weber had analysed authority of structures firstly by defining domination. He defined domination as the “probability that certain specific commands (or all commands) will be obeyed by a given group of persons”. Domination can be legitimate as well as illegitimate where Weber is much interested in the legitimate form of domination, called authority. Weber remained fairly close to his ideas on individual action, but he rapidly moved into the large-scale structures of authority. 
B_ Forms of Authority
   He explained three forms of authority. They are given below:
1_ Traditional Authority : Traditional authority is based on a claim by the leaders and a belief on the part of the followers, that there is virtue in the
sanctity of age – old rules and powers.
    Traditionally transmitted rules, customs, beliefs and heredity determine the basis of authority. The leaders obtain their powers from inherited right and are seen as legitimate in the light of customary rights and traditional norms. 
Authority is obtained in two ways:
 By the prestige confined by the tradition and by the belief that the ruler’s commands are valid because of authority inherent in the office or status of the ruler.
 By virtue of the discretionary powers which are conferred upon them by titles or hereditary claims to power
2_ Charismatic Authority : There are certain individuals who are so talented and versatile that they require neither position nor the boost of tradition to make impact upon others. This form of authority is known as charismatic authority. Weber claimed that power can turn into authority through charisma. 
   Charismatic authority is power legitimized by extraordinary personal abilities that inspire devotion and obedience. It depends less on a person’s ancestry or office and personality .
 The legitimacy originates from two levels of belief:
 The leader may be followed because of the extraordinary capacities or powers of personal inspiration.
 Degree of ‘felt duty’ – personal inspiration – that is enjoined upon the faithful to carry out the commands of the leader.
3_Rational - Legal authority : Weber defined rational – legal authority some times called bureaucratic authority as power legitimized by legally enacted rules and regulations. It is power legitimized in the operation of lawful government. He viewed bureaucracy as the type of organization that dominates in rational – thinking, modern societies. In bureaucracy there is no space for traditional customs and practices. 
C_ Bureaucracy :
    Weber considered bureaucracy as the “purest type of exercise of legal authority.” 
The major characteristics of bureaucracy are as follows:
 It consists of a continuous organization of official functions bound by rules.
 Each office has specified sphere of competence.
 The office carries with it a set of obligations to perform various functions, the authority to carry out these functions and the means of compulsion required to do the job.
 The offices are organized into a hierarchical system.
 The offices may carry with them technical qualifications which require training for the officials.
 The staff that fills these offices does not known the means of production associated with them: staff members are provided with the use of those things that they need to do the job.
 The incumbent is not allowed to appropriate the position; it always remains part of organization.
 Administrative acts, decisions and rules are formulated and
recorded in writing
3_ The Party :
A_ Definition of the Party :
    Parties are «  groups which are specifically concerned with influencing politics and making decisions in the interests of their membership. » It includes variety of associations from the mass political parties to the whole range of pressure or interest groups which include profession associations, trade unions etc. 
B_ The purpose of the Party :
   The primary purpose of parties is to secure power and maintain separation from the economic and status spheres. All associations by the members are to be carried out according to the prescribed rules. Modern parties alter the class structure of the society by absorbing elements of the class struggle in their representation of social groups.