The Political Thought of Max Weber

Max Weber is considered a pioneer of the rationalist trend in the second half of the nineteenth century and the beginning of the twentieth century. His full name is Maximilian Carl Emil Weber (in German: Maximilian Carl Emil Weber) (April 21, 1864 – June 14, 1920). He was a German scholar in economics and politics, and one of the founders of modern sociology and the study of public administration in state institutions.

Weber was interested in analyzing the change that occurred in social organization in modern society, as well as clarifying the characteristics and components of formal organizations, which have become the most common form of organization in this society.

Max Weber’s writings are considered a foundation for two types of studies:

• Historical studies that follow the clear transformation towards bureaucracy.
• Empirical research that addressed the dimensions of organizations and their structural characteristics.

Weber considered bureaucracy to be the essence of his theory about society, and the main question he tried to answer was: What are the foundations on which rational administration generally rests?

His answer came in the form of a theory about the structure of bureaucracy, its ideal characteristics, and its comparative historical effects.

Weber’s analyses of bureaucracy are based on his conception of the nature of power relations in society, where he defines power as the ability of a certain person and their possibilities to impose their will on the behavior of other individuals.

Weber believed that there is a model of power relations that must be paid attention to, which he called authority. In his view, authority is the power relationship between the ruler and individuals, where the ruler exercises power as a legitimate right, and individuals believe it is their duty to obey the ruler and comply with his orders.

Weber tried to classify models of authority based on two criteria:

• Belief in the legitimacy of authority.
• The presence of a suitable administrative apparatus.

Weber distinguished between three models of authority, which are based on different conceptions of legitimacy and varying administrative organizations, accompanying each of them: 01- Charismatic Authority Model This authority is based on absolute loyalty to a certain exceptional sanctity, such as heroism or a model of personality that is emulated for its values, or because of a system invented by a leader.

The charismatic leader, whether a prophet, warrior, or philosopher, performs extraordinary acts, which makes individuals believe in him and follow him. The prevailing administrative apparatus under this system is characterized by instability, and it consists of a small number of people close to the leader, who act as intermediaries between him and the masses.

02- Traditional Authority Model In this model, authority derives its legitimacy from belief in the power of prevailing customs, traditions, and norms, and the legitimacy of the status occupied by those who hold the social positions representing traditional authority, as is the case in monarchies. The ruler issues his orders based on his hereditary status, and these orders often express his personal desires. The loyalty of individuals is due to their respect for traditional status, and the administrative apparatus that carries out the task of exercising this authority takes two forms:

• Hereditary, based on kinship with the supreme leader.
• Feudal administration, which defines a limited degree of self-autonomy, as feudal loyalty and personal attachment to it are the basis for forming the administrative apparatus.

03- Legal Authority Model This authority is based on a rational and reasonable basis, derived from belief in objective (impersonal) rules or standards, meaning there is an official belief in the superiority of a certain structure of legal standards, regardless of the content of these rules.

In this model, individuals’ obedience to the law is not due to the authority of a charismatic leader, nor to their compliance with a traditional leader, but rather to their belief that these are the appropriate procedures and rules that are accepted by both rulers and individuals.

The administrative apparatus on which legal authority relies is called bureaucracy, which is also characterized by reliance on rules and the formal system that defines the nature of the hierarchical order, the rights and duties associated with each position within it, and the procedures for appointment and promotion, etc.

Weber asserts that these models cannot be fully realized in reality, as real power structures often include mixed elements from the three models.

The Protestant Ethic according to Max Weber

Max Weber defines religion based on the Roman word Religio, which means the ritual practice in temples or churches, a practice overseen by a specialized class. In Weber’s view, Christianity is the religion of religions, the ideal and highest model in the general course of religious consciousness. He considered Protestantism to be the religion suitable for human progress, within the idea of the Protestant ethic and the spirit of capitalism, a famous article published by Max Weber in 1905.

The Protestant ethic is a set of concepts in the behavior of the Protestant Christian that focuses on the moral value of work, self-control, and a sense of personal responsibility. These principles were derived from the Protestant belief that people do not live and work for themselves, but rather their actions and intentions come by the command of God. These individuals prove their value to themselves, society, and God by overcoming hardships through sincere work, self-control, and moral behavior.

According to Weber, the Protestant ethic urges people to work, believing that work is good, and emphasizes self-denial in pursuit of righteousness. It prohibits waste and extravagance in personal luxury and pleasures, and this ethic does not see wealth as a sin in itself, but only becomes a sin when it tempts towards laziness and moral corruption.

Personal responsibility, according to Weber, is one of the highest ideals in the Protestant ethic. Sincerity, foresight, and contemplation are matters that help people succeed, and a person’s steadfastness against temptations preserves their energy, savings, and time. According to this ethic, a person is good if they are diligent in their work, honest, and upright.

Weber emphasized that the principles of Protestantism contributed to the development of the capitalist economic system, in which individuals and institutions control the means of production, and success in this system comes through diligent work, investment, and saving.

Max Weber was influenced by Nietzsche, and he aspired to be the Marx of capitalism. He was inclined towards parliamentary democracy, where the government would be led by a strong and charismatic president, enabling him to alleviate the intensity of parliamentary disputes. This made him an opponent of pure parliamentary systems, and he publicly stated: The parliamentary system and its partisan disputes can be avoided if the executive council is united under a president elected by the entire people.

Weber was also inclined towards plebiscitary democracy, and towards the end of his life, it was no longer possible to overlook his explicit positions, which some did not hesitate to interpret as opposition to democracy, aversion to the concept of human rights, and admiration for the charismatic dictatorial model.