SumBlog#4

 

The 3 kinds of Authority

Webber

 

The three kinds of authority proposed by Webber, although defined differently and separate, don't seem to be able to exist on their own when expanded onto the macro scale. What I mean by this is that from all that I can recall there is a balance of over lap. Lets start in the beginning and continue chronologically. Before an individual becomes a figure of authority, they start off with no Rational or Traditional power. They are unknown at this point and have no real experience. This leaves the Charismatic authority, and this is most likely gained through direct experience. From this charisma, the individual may now convince a group of people to allow that person to represent and lead, thus adding Rational authority to that gained by charisma.

 

During the individual's time spent as a leader, problems and tests should occur that would threaten the status as a leader. If a failure occurs, it is the time to re-use the Charismatic authority developed from the beginning. If the person did not maintain the Charismatic authority, then they would be replaced. After a while if successful, the people that are led would become complacent and habituated creating the Traditional authority. After this point the original leading individual's children and other family, benefiting from the success of the former, could begin to pursue or inherit their own leadership roles.

 

However, these new leaders who get their start from another, are not immune to the maintenances required to keep their authority. Failure in this would lead to a over throw by newcomers who have the Charismatic and Rational authorities. This is easily demonstrated by the many usurpations and rebellions that occurred through out the history of any areas that hosted empires. So in the end, it appears that on a large scale, and especially in the political histories of this world, the three types of authority: Rational, Traditional, and Charismatic, exists in a varying array of combinations, to allow for lasting periods of authority.

 

Just the basics to start becoming a leader!