Ideal types of legitimite order of Weber
From Geography
Max Weber outlines in his work that there are three types of legitimate order or authority. Traditional authority, charismatic authority and rational/legal authority (Campbell, 1981)
Traditional authority The traditional authority rests on the acceptance of the sanctity of rules, in if they are holy and sacred, because they have existed for a long time. And also in the legitimacy of those who have inherited the right to command under these rules. In tradiotional order the individual feels loyalty to the past and those who represent that past, a loyalty whose origin is often rooted in the belief in the sacredness of ceratain historical events.
Charismatic authority This type of order is legitimated by outstanding personal qualities of extraordinary individuals whose sanctity, heroism or virtue enables them to command large numbers of men and wonen in face-to-face relationships. For example the military and religious figures.
Rational/Legal authority In contrast to traditional and charismatic authority, the rational/legal authority rests on a belief in the legality of certain rules which means that those who issue the rules are entitled to do so according to yet further rules which lay down who has the right to command. This kind of order of rules is more impersonal. It doens't depend on the qualities of the individual, as in the tradional and charismatic authority, who create the rules.
Literature Campbell, T. (1981). Seven theories of human society. Claidon Press, Oxford.
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