Political and Leadership Structure

• Power - Max Weber (1922), ability to impose will to others
• Authority- power that is accepted
• Types of Authority

  ❖ Traditional = legitimized by established custom

  ❖ Charismatic = emanates from people of distinct and

  likeable personalities

  ❖ Legal-Rational = legitimized by laws and other

  written-regulations.
• Political Organizations

  ❖ Bands - most primitive of all organizations (hunting and gathering)

  • no time frame for the leadership
  • mostly family members
  • power is egalitarian

  ❖ Tribes - composed of family members

  • larger than bands and relies on agriculture
  • made up of at least hundreds of people

  ❖ Chiefdoms - complex political organization

  • power is centralized
  • Administration is organized
  • Key positions are stretched; power can be bestowed by the chief

  ❖ State - autonomous political unit

  • Encompassing many communities within its territory/ collect tax
• Elements of the State

  ❖ Territory - natural resources (atmosphere, sea borders, land

  borders)

  ❖ Population - covers the entire people in a territory; citizens of

  the state

  ❖ Government - system of governance and administration in

  the state

  ❖ Sovereignty - inherent right to rule oneself, without the

  directions of other states