Distinguish between ‘Power and authority’.

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NABILA ESSOOF

Distinguish between ‘Power and authority’.

We tend to assume that politics is associated with power and authority, which is partly true. However, these terms are often confused.

Power is the ability for an individual or a body has to make others do something, and authority is the right to exercise the power. For example, in a representative democracy there are three states legislative, judiciary and the executive, the executive have the power to make the judiciary enforce the law and only the judiciary can pass the laws not the executive.

In everyday life Power and authority is sometimes used by the threat of unpleasant consequences e.g. physical or economic but also through the offer for rewards. For example:

  • A man with a gun orders you to accompany him. You comply.
  • A policeman orders you to accompany him. You comply.

The outcomes are the same but the nature of the relationship with the person giving the orders is different. In the event with the gunman he or she was able to get he or she’s way through your fear of what would happen if you did not comply. However, the police officer has the control and you almost certainly have to obey him or her because you accepted his or her right to order you, unlike the scenario with the gunman, he or she has the power because he or she is in control and could shoot you but has no authority. In this case the gunman has the power of ability to command: to get others to obey, even if they are reluctant.

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How do elections promote democracy?

Elections are seen as the essential part of democracy and elections is derived from the concept of democracy. Elections are seen as the voice of the people, which compliments the idea of democracy. We also assume that we are provided freedom of speech and we can vote freely without any reason and voting is done in a secret ballot.

However, I don’t believe you are given full freedom of speech because you are being told what to do, as you are limited to a few candidates and by voting for a single party ...

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