SOC 101 Lecture Notes - Lecture 18: Bowling Alone, Robert D. Putnam, Political Sociology
Document Summary
Sociologists recognize that power can take different forms. Weber: power is ability to impose one"s will on others despite resistance. Focuses on coercion, resources, and legitimacy as important bases of power. Foucault: analyzed the development of power in western societies. Finds that power is hidden, we don"t realize it"s exerted on us. Coercion: powerful individuals resort to threats of punishment if people do not follow orders. Resources: use to get what you want. Weber: noted that political elites rarely have to use coercion or exploit their resources, as people follow orders because of authority. Authority: the legitimacy of the political elites in the eyes of the subordinates. Legitimate: viewed as morally correct or justified. Authority is an important but largely invisible source of power. (1) charismatic authority: charisma, unique powers of individual are the basis for their domination of others. (2) traditional authority: tradition is used to justify the rule of some over others.
