Understanding Culture, Society and Politics

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Political Organizations

Political Organizations

Our society consists of many different social organizations that are inevitably
related to each other. The basis unit of these organizations is the family, from
which we base kinship.
We are able to learn the different kinds of kinship, as well as their
importance and their effect on the society.
Aside from family, another known part of our social organization are the
political and leadership structures. Politics is defined broadly as the
activities, associated with the governance of a country.
At the end of this lesson, you will be able to:
1. Analyze social and political institutions
2. Understand the impact of the existence of the social and political
institutions in our society
3. Learn about the different kinds of authority and legitimacy practiced in
politics

Political Organization
A political organization refers to any organization that is involved in the
political process. This includes political parties, non-governmental
organizations (NGOs), advocacy groups, and special interest groups.
Nowadays, political organizations are known for their involvement with
activities related to politics.

Types of Political Organization

Political organizations exist in every country, as they are essential in
managing public affairs, maintaining social order, and resolving conflict. But
as there are varying societies, different political systems have been
developed to suit their needs.
Bands
Bands are the smallest of the four types of political organizations. It is usually
a small group connected by family ties and is politically independent. They
are most often found in foraging societies or groups of hunter-gatherers.
As they are often small and are often a nomadic group, bands usually have
little or lack formal leadership. Their decisions are often based on group
consensus rather than the command of a central governing official. For this,

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 they are often referred to as egalitarian societies, or societies which all
persons of the same age and gender are seen as equals.
Tribes
Tribes are larger compared to band societies. It is often described as a
combination of smaller kin or non-kin groups which are united by a common
culture.
While tribal organizations are larger compared to bands, they too are
egalitarian by nature. They lack centralized political leadership. Tribe elders
are often assigned to manage clan affairs such as settling disputes and
negotiation with other clans, but they do not hold political offices.
Chiefdom
Unlike the first two political organizations, the chiefdom is governed by a
governing body, aptly called a chief. The chief and his family holds political
power over the rest of the society, which now consists of more than one
community.
Chiefdom is not egalitarian, but have social rank, where the chief and his
family are the highest. It is a political organization that involves a more
formal and permanent political structure compared to tribal and band
organizations.
State
According to the German sociologist Max Weber, a state is a compulsory
political organization with a centralized government that maintains a
monopoly of the legitimate use of force within a certain territory.
In politics, a state refers to an organized political community that is living
under a single system of government which governs a large population, with
a hierarchy of differing political positions and the power to enforce decisions.
They are the largest of the four political organizations. They are the most
commonly seen political organization nowadays.

Authority and Legitimacy

Political organizations have lasted because they follow certain guidelines or
regulations to ensure that political processes are going smoothly.
Authority is the concept of right to issue and, using coercive power, to
enforce a command. It is not to be identified with persuasion and influence.
An example would be the state, which has the authority to make laws which
are obeyed by the citizens.
Authority is exercised not just within a political organization, but among
other social organizations as well. There is parental authority which is often
exercised by families. The parents have the authority over their children, as
they are the ones to allocate economic and non-economic essentials, as well
as implement rules within their home.
Legitimacy originated from the Latin word “legitimare”, meaning to “declare,
lawful”. According to Weber, it is “the basis of every system of authority, and
correspondingly of every kind of willingness to obey, is a belief, a belief by
virtue of which persons exercising authority are lent prestige.”
 Understanding Culture, Society and Politics
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Political Organizations

Simply put, legitimacy refers to the popular acceptance of a government, or

any system of authority.
Gaining legitimacy is considered a basic condition of rule among authorities.
Without it, a governing regime is likely to collapse.
Weber’s Theory of Authority
Weber classified three types of legitimate rule: traditional, charismatic, and
rational-legal.
Traditional Authority is a type of authority that is legitimated by the sanctity
of tradition or custom. An example of this are monarchies and tribes, where
authority is, by tradition, either patriarchal or matriarchal.
This type of legitimate rule tends not to change overtime. Moreover, it does
not facilitate social change. In feudal Europe, for example, kings gained
authority simply because their fathers had been kings. And as it has been a
tradition to have a king as a ruler, subjects did not question this kind of
authority.
Charismatic Authority, on the other hand, is authority made legitimate by a
leader with a mission and vision that inspires others. Weber defined a
charismatic leader as an individual that has extraordinary characteristics. He
or she can be a head of a new social movement or someone instilled with
supernatural powers, such as a religious prophet. By this definition, we can
say that religious organizations such as Christianism and Islam are
established by charismatic authority.
Lastly, the Legal-Rational Authority (also known as Rational Authority)
refers to a form of leadership made legitimate by legal rationality or legal
legitimacy. Its legitimacy is derived from the power of the content of law or
natural law.
The best example of rational authority according to Weber would be
bureaucracy (political and economic). This type of authority is apparent in
modern states and city governments, as well as in voluntary associations,
private and public corporations.

References
Political Organization. Retrieved from:
http://www.zeepedia.com/read.php?political_organization_bands_tri
bal_organizations_chiefdoms_cultural_anthropology&b=98&c=25
Political Organization: Bands, Tribes, Chiefdoms, & States. Retrieved from:
http://study.com/academy/lesson/political-organizations-bands-
tribes-chiefdoms-states.html
Authority and Legitimacy. Michael Lacewing. Retrieved from:
http://cw.routledge.com/textbooks/alevelphilosophy/data/AS/WhyS
houldIBeGoverned/Authorityandlegitimacy.pdf
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Traditional Authority. Boundless. Retrieved from:
https://www.boundless.com/sociology/textbooks/boundless-
sociology-textbook/government-15/politics-power-and-authority-
112/traditional-authority-622-8158/
Max Weber: Traditional, Legal-Rational, and Charismatic Authority. Retrieved
from: http://danawilliams2.tripod.com/authority.html