Sociology 1020 Study Guide - Final Guide: Charismatic Authority, Canadian Indian Residential School System, Religious Pluralism

• School: Western University
• Department: Sociology
• Course: Sociology 1020
• Professor: Rebecca Collins- Nelsen

Document Summary

Politics the social institution that distributes power, sets a society"s goals, and makes decisions formally known as polity . Pluralism - a conviction that various religious, ethnic, racial and political groups should be allowed to thrive in a single society. Power (weber"s definition) the ability to achieve desired ends despite resistance from others. Max weber claims that every society is based on power. Government a formal organisation that directs the political life of a society. The use of power is the business of government. Demand compliance of the population, yet does not openly threaten people. Most people respect or accept the system. Authority (weber"s definition) power that people perceive as legitimate rather than coercive. Weber says: governments transform raw power into stable authority in three ways; traditional authority, rational-legal authority and charismatic authority. Pre-industrialized societies rely on tradition to transform power into authority. Traditional authority power legitimized by respect for long-established cultural patterns: closely linked to kinship.