The Modern State and the Struggle for Power
Chapter 13: The Modern State and the Struggle for Power
The Modern State and Its Legitimacy
Weber acknowledges the existence of a modern state with the following features:
- Administrative and legal, subject to change through legislation (legal order).
- Administrative apparatus that handles official business according to legislative regulation (bureaucracy).
- Legal authority over all people.
- Legitimacy for the use of force.
The legal rule is based on the idea of legitimacy. The laws are considered legitimate if the status derives from an actual contract between free individuals. The laws that do not violate basic freedoms are legitimate because reason shows that they are in harmony with the nature of things.
Natural Law
Natural law is the sum of all rules that are legitimate, not emanating from a legitimate legislature, but by their own virtues. With extinct religious belief, there is another way out: that natural right legitimizes public order. The laws are considered legitimate if the status derives from an actual contract between free individuals.
Result of this opinion:
- Any rule can become law, claiming to be obeyed.
- The law is a set of rules. The administration of justice is the application of these.
- People in positions of authority are higher only temporarily.
- Those who obey are citizens and obey the law, not the official.
Bureaucracy
Characteristics of Bureaucracy
Legal Domination
Official matters are handled through a continuous, regular attitude and are handled in accordance with stipulated rules. Namely, the duty of each officer is governed by impersonal criteria. The responsibilities and authority of each officer are part of an administrative hierarchy. Officials do not own the resources they need to carry out assigned duties, and charges are not the property of their owners. Official issues are handled by written documents, and staff professionalism is considered at the time of promotion.
Patrimonial Domination
The king and his officials will deal with administrative matters only when they are paid for the trouble. The patrimonial ruler refuses to limit his authority by stipulating rules. Tradition is behind the arbitrariness of the sovereign, and supervision of officials is a matter of personal preference and loyalty. All administrative charges are part of the domestic community of the king and are private property. Officials are personal servers, and administration costs are covered with the king’s treasure. Official business is handled in direct meetings and oral sympathy, grace, favor, or the gratitude of the king is considered at the time of promotion.
Bureaucratic Official Position of Legal Domination
- Is personally free and appointed to certain positions on a contract basis.
- Exercises the authority delegated to him in accordance with impersonal rules.
- His appointment and the location of his work depend on his technical skills.
- His work is remunerated by a regular salary and regular promotion prospects.
- The bureaucracy has its own experts.
Advantages of Bureaucracy
- Is oriented toward impersonal rules.
- Concentration of the means of administration.
- Leveling effect of social and economic differences.
Bureaucracy and Political Leadership
Each type of domination faces its own problems that can be resolved through the struggle for power.
Problem: To direct and control the apparatus of disciples, servants, officers, subjects, and bureaucrats responsible for implementing the decisions of everyday life.
Legal Domination
The struggle for power manifests itself in the decisive influence on voters and the bureaucracy. The legal rule is the daily exercise of authority.
Charismatic Domination
The leader fights against the forces of depersonalization. They must assert their magic amid the struggles waged by the interests of family clans or the melee of institutional bureaucratic corporate interests.
Conditions of Political Leadership in Modern Society
Leader
Has the power to control, special conditions of capacity and character, and the ability to form independent judgments and to express them in certain circumstances. They can choose to ignore their views at certain times. They possess wisdom in the struggle for power.
Official
Must be willing to always follow orders and obey. They must subordinate their personal views to their sense of duty. They must cultivate their trial, making it serve a higher authority.
Parties, Leaders, and Elections
Parties: Associations within a political community whose membership is based on formally free recruitment.
Question to be addressed: How can political leadership exist in political parties when they become more bureaucratic? Through upheavals that elevate a new leader, speeches, and convincing power (charisma).
Financing of political parties: Membership fees + various activities such as cooperatives, institutions of indoctrination, etc.
The representative election system is generally considered representative, with the elected leader seen as the voters’ server rather than their ruler.
Unions bring stability to the system.