Posted by Chester Morton / Monday 26 December 2016 / No comments
The sources of political authority
Definition
Political authority can be defined as the power to control and
direct the behaviour of people who live within a person or groups of persons’ area
of influence. In other words, to have political authority is to have control
over other people.
SOURCES OF POLITICAL AUTHORITY
Constitution
The constitution of a country makes provision for the
establishment of certain institutions of state. It, for example, establishes
the three organs of the legislature, executive and the judiciary and it
allocates powers to these organs. The authority that is exercised by these
institutions of state and others created by it is conferred on them by the
constitution.
The electorates
Another source of political authority is the electorates. In
every state where periodic elections take place, political office holders can
only enter office into only when they are duly elected by the people. When they
are dissatisfied by the conduct of a government, they withdraw its legitimacy
by voting it out of power.
Hereditary
Some forms of political power is inherited from a dead king
or queen. This is usual in a monarchical system of government. Normally when
the incumbent passes on, the next in line is put on the throne to continue to
exercise the legitimate power that his or her predecessor used to exercise
while alive.
Charisma
Some leaders are just charismatic. They are able to carry the
people along with their charisma. People tend to gravitate toward charismatic
leaders and are mostly loyal to him in most circumstances. Some charismatic
leaders of the world include Adolf Hitler and Ghana’s Jerry John Rawlings.
Wealth
The wealth of a country can also be a source of political
power for that nation. It is easy to have considerable influence over another
nation if that nation depends almost entirely of the wealth of another nation.
The wealth of China has given her a lot of leverage in the international
circles where her opinion matters so much in the new world political order.
Force of arms
Some people can take over political by force. This is usually
in a coup d’etat. This is most prevalent in Africa where a group of adventurers
take up guns and topple their government. Some also just enter the bush and
begin to fight the government of the day by taking the country inch by inch
until they overrun the capital. This was used by Charles Taylor in Liberia and
President Yoweri Musseveni of Uganda
SAMPLE QUESTION
1. Highlight six sources of political power.
