Week 4: Political Authority

Political Authority

 

 

What is political authority?

Max Weber

 

..... a human community that (successfully ) claims the monopoly of the legitimate use of physical force within' a given territory. 

Political Authority

....the hypothesized  moral property in virtue of which governments may coerce people in certain ways not permitted to anyone else and in virtue of which citizen must obey government in situation in which they would not be obligated to obey anyone else.

Authority

1. Political legitimacy (the right to rule)

2. Political obligation (duty to obey)

Aristoteles six forms of government:

1. Democracy

The leader of Democracy country is president. President is  chosen by people in voting. Example of democracy country is Indonesia, USA, Finland, Sweden.

2. Monarchy

The leader of Monarchy country is a king as a descendant of its kingdom. The example of  Monarchy country is Brunei Darussalam, England, Saudi Arabia.

3. Tyranny

Tyranny is government system lead by evil leader. Example is when Hitler as German Nazi leader.

4. Aristocracy

Aristocracy  is a country which believe with one or some influential figure. Example is Ayatullah as Ulama in Iran.

5. Oligarchy

Oligarchy happen when a country is lead by a leader or people who make themselves rich. Example is Soeharto era in Indonesia.

6. Polity

Polity is  ideal Greek state (more elite than democracy). Example is Greek.

Divine Right (rule from god)

Ayatullah Khamenei : Ulama of Iran 

1. The oldest sources of political authority

2. Still used in theocratic regimes and in religious settings

3. Currently viewed as an obsolete source of authority

Natural Law

Adolf Hitler (source : google.com)

1. Legitimacy (and authority) comes from being the most powerful individual within' a society (primus inter pares) - Strongest people in room (Hitler)

2. Often linked with tribalism, social darwinism and patriarchy

Democracy

1. Legitimacy comes from the people, who vote for their representative.

2. Hence, the mandate of the masses gives legitimacy.

Three sources of legitimate authority (Weber 1922)

1. Charisma 

2. Authority

3. Legal rational (law constitution) & Traditional (custom, religion, habit)

Where does the authority come from? 

Who should have political authority?

The flow of authority

picture source : google.com

1. By voting, people consent to a few people to run the  government.

2. This provides legitimacy and authority for these people.

3. You have then the obligation to obey the government that yourself have chosen, as long as they have legitimacy to do so.

But, is the will of people really a good sources of political authority?

De Condorcet's arguments

De Condorcet (picture source : google.com)

1. Crowds make better decision than a single voter

2. Hence, democracy makes better decisions than non - democracy

But, do more voters really make better decisions?

1. What if they were manipulated? 

2. What if they were motivated by their own interest, which come from disagreement of hat "the common good" is?

The issue of voting

1. Does voting reflect interest or preference?

2. If everyone truly equal, why can't everyone else can't?

3. Why should we allow people who know nothing of public to vote?

Read more below

Rousseau's response

1. Condorcet's arguments will only work if everyone is educated to a certain degree.

2. They need to know what the "common interest" is.

In fact, having critical thinking is important to self development and it is not the only ability for certain degree people. Furthermore, people become smarter and  probably more satisfied, realizing that they can vote for country better future.

De Tocqueville's argument against democracy

1. In democracy in America, de Toqueville noted the "Tyranny of majority"

2. If 51% of the people agree to kill Jews, is the decision is legitimate?

Plato's argument against democracy

Plato (picture source : google.com)

1. Plato vehemently distrusted democracy

2. Craft analogy : would you trust an engineer to perform surgery on you?

In case of the leader is not capable during his/her leadership as democracy  country, people can take leader down from leadership chair by using reformation or impeachment. In democracy country "demo" is a legal action as in rule as a respond of government work. The example is when Indonesia did reformation to President Soeharto on May 1998. If people not effectively enough to choose a leader then government system going wrong, people must continue do an election then learn from process and mistake, which political figure or political party should not be selected as government.

Plato's "philosopher king"

1. A ruler who has a love of wisdom

2. Their rule is legitimized because they are the ones who are capable of addressing political issues.

In favour of the philosopher king?

It's modern form is a benevolent dictactorship. Think Singapore during Lee Kuan Yew's rule or Indonesia's era during Soeharto.

A challenge to authority

 1. Anarchist thinks that any form of authority that bases itself in the monopoly of violence is inherently illegitimate.

2. Who governs then? No one, they won't lead by anyone.

3. Epicurean - style communism anarchosyndicalism stc.

 

When do the people lose their political authority?

1. Political authority is not eternal

    People lose authority when their source of legitimacy or obligation runs out.

2. Political authority can be legitimately challenged

    - Coup d'etats  (Kudeta)

    - Impeachment

    - Vote of no confidence (Mosi tidak percaya)

    -  Popular overthrow such as revolution, reformation

 

Conclusion

1. Political  authority comes from both legitimacy and obligation. Providing both exist necessary to establish authority.

2. Who is support to govern? Is still a relevant question today.