agreement from the people to gain authority. Leftwich and Schwartmantel both show a keen
interest on distribution. Leftwich’s focus is on the distribution of resources whereas
Schwartmantel emphasises the distribution of power.
There are many factors of politics that the texts vary on. The first element which is
mentioned in all the texts is power however in each text this topic varies in importance. For
Weber, power is a central element in the text where he describes politics as ‘striving to share
power or striving to influence distribution’ (Weber, 1919). However he doesn’t say that this
is the only form of power that can be linked back to politics. This differs to Cricks view on
politics. Crick’s definition of politics doesn’t isolate this as a single definition, it is closely
related to power and authority. This means that politics existence isn’t dependent on the
‘struggle for power’ (Crick, 1982, p.20). However he also states that ‘common usage of the
word might encourage on to think that politics is a real force in every organise state’ (Crick,
1982, p.18) which shows his disagreement in the struggle for power.
On the other hand Leftwich’s idea of politics is that it is a ‘universal and timeless
process which organizes and expresses the interactions of people, resources and power’
(Leftwich, 1984, p.101). Leftwich clearly identifies previous ideas of power and takes that
into thought when deciding his own idea of power is ‘it is always present in human affairs’
(Leftwich, 1984, p.110). Schwarzmantel links power and state as the main factors of politics:
‘Politics is about power and how it is distributed’(Schwarzmantel, 1987, p.2). The main point
being made by Schwarzmantel is how power is ‘embodied in human beings’(Schwarzmantel,
1987, p.2) and how politics is exists in a broader context where it ‘exists in any context where
there is a structure of power and struggle for power in an attempt to gain or maintain
leadership positions’ (Schwarzmantel, 1987, p.2)
Weber’s definition of state is that ‘state is a human community that (successfully
claims the monopoly of the legitimate use of physical force within a given territory’ (Weber,
1919) and this shows that the role ultimately of the state is ‘the use of physical force’ (Weber,
1919) therefore using power as a means of enforcement. Leftwich’s continuing theme
throughout the text is the distribution of resources. The role of the state in relation to this
becomes the authority over these resources. However he does say that politics can occur in
‘stateless societies’ and also in ‘non-public institutions’ (Leftwich, 1984, p.103). This
identifies that the state isn’t a necessity to politics according to Leftwich.
Schwarzmantel states how ‘states differ in terms of their political institutions as well
as in terms of the social context within which they are situated and which they try to
maintain’ (Schwarzmantel, 1987, p.2). He then goes onto explain how the state is constructed
and the different elements within a state where it is made clear that they ‘differ in terms of
political institutions as well as in temps of the social context within they are situated’
(Schwarzmantel, 1987) This then highlights the problems which are faced in politics as the
‘different elements of the state need not be in harmony’ (Schwarzmantel, 1987, p.2).
According to Crick the word consent is what describes the role of state and ‘people
have every right to say that all government is based on consent’ (Crick, 1982, p.26).
Therefore the state is present as a means of preserving a common interest of a community: ‘if
there was absolute freedom, there could be no love; if there is absolute consent, there could
be no government’ (Crick, 1982, p.26). This demonstrates how Crick centralises this theme
of consent into the role of the state. Both Leftwich and Weber have a mutual agreement on
the view that resources as an important element. However Weber’s reasoning for this is due
to maintaining power of the state as ‘territory is on the characteristics of state’ (Weber, 1919)
and the ‘state is considered the sole source of the right to use violence’ (Weber, 1919)
In conclusion the question: ‘what is politics?’ has been given sufficient debate by various
authors. Max Weber, Bernard Crick, Adrian Leftwich and John Schwarzmantel have all got
varying view on the issue, with each of them articulating their own view with justification to
their points. Weber’s views on politics show that the power is an element of politics but how
it used defines politics as a whole for him. Leftwich’s broad view on how politics is present
everywhere proves that politics doesn’t have to contain particular elements but should be
considered an activity. Crick on the other hand has the appeal of discussing how the struggle
for power isn’t a real thing but has been made to seem the most important. Schwarzmantel
makes the interesting point that in every relationship there is politics as one can impose their
will on others.
Bibliography
Weber, M. Politics as a Vocation (Munich: Dunker and Hombolt, 1919) (excerpt)
Crick, B., In Defence of Politics (Harmondsworth: Penguin, 1982), ch.2
Leftwich, A., ‘The Political Approach to Human Behaviour: People, Resources and Power’,
in Leftwich, A. (ed.)What is Politics: The Activity and its Study (Oxford: Blackwell, 1984)
Schwarzmantel, J., Structures of Power: An Introduction to Politics (Brighton: Wheatsheat,
1987), ch.7
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dharrshy (student)
