Social Institutions: Politics
SOC 101
Chapter 12
What Is a Social Institution?
An organized sphere of social life, or
societal subsystem, designed to meet
human needs
Major social institutions include the
economy, politics, the family, religion,
education, and medicine
Focus on Politics
Politics or “the
polity” is the social
institution that
distributes power,
sets a society’s
agenda, and makes
decisions
What Is Power?
Ability to achieve
desired ends
despite resistance
from others
What Is Authority?
Authority is legitimate power. This is
power that people accept as right.
What Is Coercion?
It is illegitimate power that people do not
accept as just.
Weber’s Typology
Max Weber identified three sources of
authority: traditional, rational-legal, and
charismatic.
Traditional Authority
It is based on
custom or
tradition.
Pre-industrial societies
Declines as societies
industrialize
Rational-Legal Authority
It is power
legitimized by
rationally enacted
law
Charismatic Authority
Based on an
individual’s
outstanding traits
which attract
followers
Examples - Joan of
Arc, Gandhi, Hitler
Global Political Systems
Generally, they
fall into four
categories:
monarchy,
democracy,
authoritarianism,
and
totalitarianism
Monarchy
A type of political
system in which a
single family rules from
generation to
generation
Common in
preindustrial societies –
only 28 today
Examples – Saudi
Arabia, Kuwait
Democracy
A type of political
system which gives
power to the people
as a whole
Freedom House lists
85 nations as free
(2000) with respect
for civil liberties
Authoritarianism
A political system
that denies
popular
participation in
government
Examples – Iraq,
Ethiopia
Totalitarianism
A highly centralized political system that
extensively regulates people’s lives
Emerged during the 20th century
Examples – Nazi Germany, U.S.S.R.,
North Korea
Examples span the political spectrum

From fascist regimes to communist
regimes
Politics in the United States
Political culture emphasizes
individualism
Rise of the welfare state – a range of
government agencies and programs
that provides benefits to the population
Today, one official to serve every 14
citizens (about 20 million government
employees)
The Political Spectrum
Ranges from extremely
liberal on the left to
extremely conservative
on the right
Most people are not
consistently either
liberal or conservative
Examples: social
conservative vs. fiscal
conservative
Party Identification
It is weak in U.S.
A recent survey (1999)
found:
47% identified themselves
as Democrats,
34% as Republicans, 17%
as independents
Voter Apathy
U. S. citizens are less
likely to vote today
than they were a
century ago
In 2000, only half of
registered voters
voted
How do you account
for voter apathy?
Theoretical Analysis of Politics
Three competing models of power have
emerged: the pluralist, the elite, and the
Marxist
The pluralist model sees power as
dispersed among many competing
interest groups
David Riesman’s Pluralist
Theory of Power
He argues that
power is dispersed.
Sees two levels:
1. “Veto groups” - or
interest groups
2. The public sought as an ally by
interest groups;
often uninvolved
Mills’ Power Elite Theory
Power elite is
composed of top
political, economic,
and military leaders.
Views power as a
pyramid with three
levels.
Domhoff’s Elite Theory
He argues that the upper class is a
ruling class that dominates decisionmaking.
Warren Buffett 1930 -
The Marxist Model
An analysis that
explains politics in
terms of the
operation of a
society’s economic
system
It views power as
concentrated
Which Theory is Correct?
Answer is not yet conclusive. Further
research is needed.
Power Beyond the Rules
Political revolution is the overthrow of
one political system in order to establish
another
Revolutions share a number of traits:
1. Rising expectations
2. Unresponsive government
3. Radical leadership by intellectuals
4. Establishing a new legitimacy
Davies’ J-Curve Theory of
Revolution
Revolution is likely to occur when a
prolonged period of economic and
political advancement is followed by a
sharp downturn
Terrorism
Acts of violence or the threat of such
violence used by an individual or a group
as a political strategy
http://www.usis.usemb.se/terror/index.html
Closing Activity
1. Why is terrorism so important in the
modern world?
True-False Items:
2. Rational-legal authority is based on
written rules.
3. Charismatic authority tends to be
more stable than traditional authority.