Model Answer
0 min readIntroduction
Max Weber, a foundational figure in sociology, defined **legitimate domination** as the probability that a command will be obeyed by a specified group of people. This obedience isn’t based on force alone, but on the belief in the legitimacy of the authority issuing the command. Weber identified three ideal types of legitimate domination, each characterized by a distinct source of legitimacy and a corresponding administrative structure. Understanding these types is crucial for analyzing power structures and social order.
Weber’s Types of Legitimate Domination
Weber categorized legitimate domination into three ideal types:
1. Traditional Domination
- Based on established customs and beliefs in the sanctity of long-standing traditions.
- Authority is inherited or derived from custom.
- Administrative staff consists of personally loyal followers.
- Example: Monarchies and patriarchal systems. Historically, the British monarchy, before significant constitutional reforms, exemplified traditional domination.
2. Charismatic Domination
- Based on the exceptional sanctity, heroism, or exemplary character of an individual leader.
- Followers believe in the leader’s extraordinary qualities.
- Administration is often disorganized and relies on the leader’s direct followers.
- Example: Mahatma Gandhi’s leadership during the Indian independence movement. His moral authority and mass appeal were central to his charismatic domination.
3. Rational-Legal Domination
- Based on a belief in the legality of enacted rules and the right of those elevated to authority under those rules to issue commands.
- Authority is vested in offices, not individuals.
- Administrative staff is organized bureaucratically, with clear hierarchies and rules.
- Example: Modern state bureaucracies, like the Indian Administrative Service (IAS).
Weber emphasized that these are ideal types, rarely found in pure form. Real-world domination often combines elements of all three types.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Weber’s concepts of traditional, charismatic, and rational-legal domination provide a powerful framework for understanding the basis of authority and the structures of power in society. These ideal types, while not mutually exclusive in practice, offer valuable insights into how legitimacy is established and maintained, shaping social order and political systems.
Answer Length
This is a comprehensive model answer for learning purposes and may exceed the word limit. In the exam, always adhere to the prescribed word count.