Power and authority seems as though they would be synonyms. However, they are different. Someone can have authority and not have power and vice versa. Authority denotes ability. Power denotes influence (Wrong, 2017). In government, authority is bestowed upon politicians or judges, and so forth when they assume office. A Justice of the Supreme Court has the authority to send someone to jail based on the case information. Power on the other hand is the ability to sway opinions and policy in one’s favor. For example, President Trump had the authority to strike Syria with missiles. However, he did not have the power to sway Congress to fund the wall project.

These are things to consider when examining government and politics. Within the realm of power and authority, it is important to have both as that way, things can be done effectively and quickly. For example, someone like Fidel Castro, who was a dictator had both authority and power. While technically he held the position of President, he was a dictator. He managed to sway enough people to support him and his rise to power and authority. He legitimized his power as authority and stayed in the position for decades (Quirk, 1995).

People always mention the idea that power is more important than anything else. While it is true, power is important, it requires some level of authority to maintain. Imagine the people working in mafias. They do not have legitimate authority, but exercise great power. If their power were legitimized through authority, their power would increase, and they would be able to do things in the open. The phenomenon of authority and power works best when they are experienced together. That is why those in power attempt to legitimize themselves by holding office through elections and political campaigns.

References

Quirk, R. E. (1995). Fidel Castro. New York: Norton.

Wrong, D. H. (2017). Power: Its forms, bases, and uses. Routledge.