Max Weber distinguishes “domination by economic power” and “domination by authority.” What is the key difference?

Question

BlackTom AI · Accepted Answer

Weber’s distinction between domination by economic power and domination by authority hinges on how the ruled relate to the ruler's will and the basis of legitimacy.
Option 1: 'Economic domination occurs on a large scale, while authority-based domination is personal.' While it might seem plausible that economic domination is impersonal and authority-based domination is more personal, Weber’s key difference is not simply scale or personal vs impersonal, but the nature of legitimacy and the alignment of the ruled with the ruler's will. Therefore this statement is incomplete and misleading.
Option 2: 'Economic domination involves competing interests, while in authority-based domination, those being ruled act as if the ruler’s will is also their own.' This captures Weber’s idea that economic domination rests on material or systemic power where interests may compete and obedience is instrumental, whereas authority relies on legitimacy that makes the ruled internalize or identify with the ruler’s will, effectively treating it as their own. This distinguishes how obedience is motivated under each form.
Option 3: 'Economic domination aims at accumulating wealth for the ruler, while authority-based domination aims at enhancing the ruler’s personal prestige.' This oversimplifies and distorts the mechanisms: economic domination is not solely about wealth accumulation nor is authority primarily about prestige. Both forms can involve broader interests, legitimacy, and coercive elements beyond prestige, so this option misstates the core distinction.
Option 4: 'Economic domination is characteristic of democratic societies, while authority-based domination is characteristic of totalitarian societies.' Weber’s typology is not simply about contemporary political systems like democracies versus totalitarian regimes. He distinguishes domination types by the basis of legitimacy (economic power vs authority) rather than by the current political regime, so this option misrepresents the theoretical framework.
In sum, the second option best reflects Weber’s emphasis on how obedience is constituted: economic domination relies on interests and mechanisms beyond the ruled’s identification with the ruler, whereas authority-based domination involves the ruled acting as if the ruler’s will is their own, signaling internalized legitimacy and voluntary alignment.

SOC 110-003 Quiz 15

Max Weber distinguishes “domination by economic power” and “domination by authority.” What is the key difference?

View Explanation

Log in for full answers

Similar Questions

In a consumer society, many adults channel creativity into buying things

Economic stress and unpredictable times have resulted in a booming industry for self-help products

People born without creativity never can develop it

A product has a selling price of $20, a contribution margin ratio of 40% and fixed cost of $120,000. To make a profit of $30,000. The number of units that must be sold is: Type the number without $ and a comma. Eg: 20000

Which of the following statement regarding cost is correct:

Under the assumptions used in cost-volume-profit analysis, as the activity increases:

The CVP and break-even analysis are supported by a range of important assumptions. Which of the following is not an assumption of the CVP:

The break-even point is that at which:

More Practical Tools for Students Powered by AI Study Helper

Homework AI Solver

Stylized AI Paper Writer

Plagiarism Checker Assistant

Citation AI Academic Writing Tool

In-Class Translation Assistant

AI Note Generator

AI Quiz Answers

Past Exam Questions from University Test Bank

Smart Practice Assistant

Adaptive Practice

Making Your Study Simpler