1.3 Modern state - bureaucracy and politics

According to Weber a modern state exists where a political community possesses the following characteristics:

• an administrative and legal order that is subject to change by legislation
• an administrative apparatus that conducts official business in accordance with legislative regulation
• binding authority over all persons (citizens) and most actions taking place in the area of its jurisdiction
• the legitimation to use force withing this area if coercion is permitted or prescribed by the legally constituted government

An important attrubute of Weber's modern state definition was the fact that it is a bureaucracy - please see that article for the description of bureaucracy ideal type.

Vast majority of the modern states from the XX century onward fall under the rational-legal authority cathegory.

2 Rational-legal leaders

Majority of modern politicianA politician is an individual involved in politics, sometimes this may include political scientists. In other settings, a politician is a type of political figure who participates in a government. In Western democracies, the term is generally restricted ts represent this type of authority.

Weber distinguished between bureaucratic official s and political leader s.

An official must exercise his judgment and his skills, but his duty is to place these at the service of a higher authority; ultimately he is responsible only for the impartial execution of assigned tasks and must sacrifice his personal judgment if it runs counter to his official duties.

Other qualities of an official:

• he is personally free and appointed to his position on the basis of conduct
• he excercises the authority delegated to him in accordance with impersonal rules, and his loyalty is enlisted on behalf of the faithful execution of his official duties
• his appointment and job placement are dependent upon his technical qualifications
• his administrative work is a full-time occupation
• his work is rewarded by a regular salary and prospects of advancement in a lifetime career

A politician must demonstrate his capacity for independent action, for which he alone is responsible. Partisanship is important to him, he must reject the responsibility for public actions that conflict with his basic policy. He should have a charismaThe word Charisma (from the Greek word charis or gift, is often used in this form to describe an ability to charm or influence people. Charisma has been credited with helping some politicians, especially those with vague platforms and populist ambitions,tic appeal to win electionSee also Election (movie) for the film directed by Alexander Payne For the Theological concept of election, see Predestination An election is a process in which a vote is held to elect candidates to an office. It is the mechanism by which a democracy fills under conditions of universal suffrageUniversal suffrage (also general suffrage or common suffrage consists of the extension of voting privileges to all adults, without distinction as to race, sex, belief or social status. The 19th century featured movements advocating universal male suffrage.

3 See also

• The three types of legitimate rule book by Max Weber

<Hide>