SOC100 Lecture Notes - Lecture 3: Patrimonialism, Meritocracy, French Revolution
Document Summary
Patrimonial: comes from the word father; familial organizations; based on personal relationships, trust (mutual obligation or kinship), violence. Patrimonial office was inefficient (personal favours and violence) and unstable (unreliable) according to weber. Putting your son or kin into a position could be less efficient if there is someone better trained for that same position. Bureaucracies evolve meritocracy: ruled by those who have merit. Similarly to the military where you earn your rank by tests and efficiency and completion of tasks. Violence is an unstable form of domination. Flaws of the patrimonial system: if you were born into a job position you won"t be motivated to work as hard to keep your job or get the job in the first place like in meritocracy. Separation of office and office holder: part of bureaucracy. Office becomes machine like and weber thinks this will make it more efficient and competent/reliable over time.
