Political Sociology
“Political Sociology” is the Study of
the Social Organization of Power.
• Power is the ability to impose one’s will on others.
• Group Power (Weber’s term) is a group’s ability
to do so and constitutes most political power.
• Power is legitimate if it is recognised by the
groups under control.
• Legitimate power is the defining characteristic of
authority.
• When non-authorities seek to change power
structures, they engage in social movements.
Power (and Politics) Exist in
Many Settings.
• Any setting in which force (coercion) is, or
can be, used constitutes a political setting.
• Most authorities use force rarely to maintain
order- order is achieved tacitly.
• Political settings in which force is rarely
necessary reflect normal politics.
State Theories
• The State is the ultimate authority, meaning
that its authority stands above all others.
• However, individuals in civil society also
have control over the state, even in nondemocratic societies.
• Two very different theories have evolved to
address the relationship between the State
and civil society:
Pluralist Theory (W. Domhoff)
• We live in a heterogeneous society with
many competing interest and spheres of
power.
• Thus, no one group can control the State.
• Politics must entail negotiation and
compromise.
• As long as society remains pluralist,
democracy is guaranteed.
Elite Theory (C Wright Mills)
• Elites are small groups that occupy the “command
posts” of social institutions (major corporations,
media, political party heads, etc).
• Elites’ decisions profoundly affect the lives of all
others in society.
• Elites can make decisions without regard for
elections or public opinion.
• Elites are connected through social bonds, but
maintain unique spheres of influence.
Criticisms of State Theories
• Pluralist Theory:
– It’s naïve. It does not acknowledge serious disparities in
wealth and power.
– Moreover, those disparities are self-perpetuating:
Privilege begets privilege.
• Elite Theory:
– Elections are important and do effect changes in
political structures.
– Election victories often happen as the result of
mobilization of non-elites.
Theories of Social Movements
• Relative Deprivation Theory
– Change occurs when people feel an intolerable gap
between what they think they deserve and what they
expect to receive.
– This gap is called “relative deprivation.”
– “Relative deprivation” is very different from “poverty”
or “absolute deprivation.”
– RDT has however been questioned because leaders in
social movements are usually not “deprived,” relatively
or otherwise.
Theories of Social Movements
• Resource-Mobilization Theory
– Social movement can only occur when the
disadvantaged can marshal the resources to
challenge authority.
– Resources include social ties, jobs, money,
weapons, and publicity, among others.
– R-MT is mostly a description of social
movements and not a “theory” per se, which
makes it difficult to criticise or to evaluate.