SOCA02H3 Lecture Notes - Conservative Coalition, Charismatic Authority, Proletariat
Document Summary
Polity-the institutionalized system by which society distributes power, sets the agenda for society, and hence makes decisions in that regard. Power-the ability to achieve desired goals despite resistance. Government-a formal organization that directs the political life of society. Authority-power which people accept,see as, justified rather than coerced. Exercise of power in the business of government. Political sociology mainly concerned with institutions that specialize in exercise of power and authority. The state-comprises institutions that formulate and carry out country"s laws and public policies. In performing these functions, the state regulates citizens in civil society-or private spheres of life. Max weber-says power becomes legitimized then becomes authority. Politics is a machine that determines who gets what, when and how (lasswell, 1936) Power-the ability to control others, even against their will-fuels the machine. When most people basically agree with how political machine is run, raw power, becomes. Power is legitimate when people regard its use as morally correct or justified.
