POWER AND AUTHORITY

The concepts of Power and Authority are very common especially within the realm of leadership or anything that has to do with it. They are sometimes used interchangeably as if they are the same. This is caused by the poor understanding of the concepts which prevents one from realising the difference between the two concepts. However, it must be noted that the two concepts in their difference are related such that they shed light on each of them.

Power is the ability to control the actions of others through the use of force or coercion. Through the exercise of power, others are compelled to change their actions against their wish in obedience to the one exercising the power on them. To achieve the desired obedience, the one exercising the power makes use of sanctions when there is non-compliance from others. Sanction which could be political, physical, social is an instrument of power. 

Power could be in different types. We have political power which is the power exercised by political leaders in steering the affairs of the state. We also have physical power which is the use of force to compel obedience. Economic power means the use of economic resources to control the actions of others. And we can also have military power which is the power used by the Army or armed forces in controlling the actions of others.

In talking about the source of power, it could easily be traced according to the type of power. The political power is derived from the constitution. The economic resources one is managing serves as a source of economic power in the society. One’s office can also be a source of power to the person who occupies the office. The physical power is obtained through the use of force.

With the foregoing, power is usually identified with force and a kind of non-acceptance by the people. Put differently, people only comply with the instructions or demand because of the use of force/coercion or sanctions attached to it of which ordinarily they will not adhere to. It therefore means that under power people obey not as a duty but under compulsion of natural factors like poverty, weakness, etc.

However when this power to give orders and direct the actions of others is accepted, it becomes authority. And so authority is the power or right to give orders and enforce obedience. Authority gives one the right to command others to obey as a duty. The power of authority is derived from one’s office or the role one plays in the environment. Derived from the consent of the people, authority commands respect, influence and confidence.

The major source of authority is one’s office, role or duty which is recognised by the people within the environment. Authority can be seen in different aspects. Political authority is the type of power bestowed on the political leaders which enable them to make laws and policies of which the people will adhere to. Technical authority is the power one exercises based on his/her technical acumen which supersedes that of the others. Traditional authority is the power exercised by traditional leaders in leading their people which is always supported by the customs and traditions of the land. We can also identify role or positional authority which is the power exercised by one who plays a certain role in the society. Here we can talk of the class prefects who exercise power in making laws and policies which are obeyed by the members of the class. The power they have to do all these is derived from their position.

One of the features of authority is that authority could be delegated to another person. The authority conferred on another person to carry out some duties on behalf of the owner or the original holder of the authority is called “Delegated authority”. This power is exercise on behalf of someone who is the original holder of the authority. Again, the exercise of authority is not by force as the subjects comply without force. The people or subjects obey because they have given their consent by the virtue of their acceptance of the source of the authority. For example, by the virtue of accepting one as the class prefect, the members of the class will simply obey the instructions given.

From the foregoing, we can identify some salient differences between power and authority. One of the differences between power and authority is that the exercise of power requires some elements of force and sanction while authority is exercised without the application of force.

Also, while authority is accepted by the people, power may not be accepted. Although power compels obedience as authority does, authority is accepted while power is not.

Moreover, another difference between power and authority is that while fear of sanctions is what compels people to obey orders in a power relation; legitimacy or the approval of the order based on the existing rules and regulations or the customs and traditions compels people to obey the orders in authority relation. It is worthy of note that this is the ought despite the contrary experience in the society.

More still, another difference between power and authority is that while authority can be delegated to others and yet be accepted by the people, power cannot be delegated. Even when it is, it does not gain acceptance by the people.

Finally, the two concepts and interrelated such that one cannot be discussed without the other. Power is the use of force to affect people’s actions of which they do not approve. When it is approved by the people, it becomes authority. Authority has people’s approval while power lacks that. This is the major difference between the two concepts.

 

Nwanyanwu Chris