3 - Party

• Party refers to political power. It is the ability to influence others in terms of rule/law creation. For example, Trade Unions, pressure groups or organised interest groups have political power.
• Weber is referring to politics in the broadest sense. We look after our own interests. Summarised, these are our 'market situation'.
• Evaluation of party:

  • Analysis is 'gradational' not 'relational' like Marxism.
  • Useful as it describes the complex reality of contemporary society using Postmodern ideas like seeing society as 'fragmented'.
  • Very difficult to measure forms of power as it is subjective.
  • Not fragmentary as they take pride in their social groupings.
  • Accounts for the development of middle class, unlike Marx.