Sample Solution

) Explain the concepts of power, legitimacy and authority from the perspective of Max Weber. In addition, explain the 3 types of legitimate domination. Utilizing the videos and chapter 2 in your text, explain whether or not Weber’s ideas help us understand our modern world and substantiate your position.

The three types of legitimate domination Weber puts into play of our society are traditional, charismatic and legal-rational. Traditional, ruled by traditional legitimacy, which is the idea that all should obey the higher power. Although, in the modern are, legal-rational and charismatic both contrast separate ideas from traditional but are similar to each other. Legal-rational believes that we follow the rules because they are the rules and are set in stone. For example, a DMV worker doesn’t ask for documents for personal reasons, instead he ask for documents because it says in the rules. The CrashCourse narrator explains that if the rules were to change the next day then the worker would work off the new rules. Charismatic legitimacy is the idea that we follow the commands of a leader because of the outstanding characteristics of said person. This works in hand with legal-rational legitimacy, as legal-rational legitimacy needs someone who make up these complex rules. Weber’s three key ideas help understand the foundation for the modernization of our society, first by understanding the thought process of traditional, accepting rules because the higher power put them in place; Next, by introducing two new ideas, charismatic and legal-rational legitimacy, which would allow the rules to be set by a higher power of someone who is an outstanding leader so that the people can follow. Therefore, leading to a theory that is still in place to this day (Charismatic and legal-rational legitimacy), the example being the president who is sworn into oath. (CrashCourse).