Max Weber 1864 1920 Weber is the second

Max Weber (1864– 1920) • Weber is the second of the three great "Classical" sociologists (Marx, Durkhiem) • Teacher (Germany) • Nervous-breakdown (1897) • only reality of knowledge is rational • Followed Judeo-Christian tradition and in particular the Protestant work ethic- a "rational" ethic for life.

Protestant work ethic (coined term in 1904) • Prosperity as a display of a person's worth. • We are predestined (Fate over free will) • Impossible to know who was predestined, so discern by wealth. • Hard work and frugality are signs of being “chosen”

Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism Book) • Boring jobs add to the common good, so “blessed”. • A blessed person more likely to accumulate money. Important! • donation of money to the poor or to charity is bad - causes furthering begging, perceived as laziness, an affront to God (NO WELFARE!)

Methodology • Explaining a concrete event (Internet) requires study of intersecting causes: no one 'law' could possibly explain it. • we need to 'understand' some action or pattern of action before we can explain it • “Class” as a shared "causal component" determining one's "life chances“ • "to treat ‘class' conceptually as being equivalent to 'group' leads to distortion" (working class identify self as middle class).

Social action • Action is based on the emotional state of the person rather than in the rational weighing of means and ends. • Sentiments are powerful forces in motivating human behavior. • distinguishing feature of modern society best viewed in terms of shift in motivation, rooted in the growth of bureaucracy and industrialism (Building on Durkheim)

Ideal Type • An ideal type provides the basic method for historica comparative study. • It is not meant to refer to the "best" or to some mora ideal, but rather to typical or "logically consistent" features of social institutions or behaviors. • never corresponds to concrete reality but is a description to which we can compare reality

Bureaucracy • Weber's focus on the operation and expansion of large-scale enterprises in both the public and private sectors of modern society • Bureaucratic coordination is the distinctive mark of modern social structures.

“Ideal” Bureaucracy Characteristics: · Hierarchy of authority · Impersonality · Written rules of conduct · Promotion based on achievement · Specialized division of labor · Efficiency

FORMAL VERSUS INFORMAL SYSTEMS (or what’s supposed to happen versus what really happens)

FORMAL • • Lasts long top-down Static (Doesn’t move) Person = “role” (“boss”) hierarchical Codified rules and order Easily understood and explained

INFORMAL • • • Constantly changing Comes from within “Grape vine” Can over-ride legal system “Conventions”, not codes

FUNCTION/FORMAL • Accomplishes the goals of the organization • Co-ordinates various activities • Organization is very well defined. • Well defined hierarchical structure • Permit specializations and division of work.

CHARACTERISTICS • • • Well defined rules and regulation Arbitrary structure (seems “made up”) Determined objectives and policies Status symbol (being a “manager” has status) Limitation on the activities of the individual Messages are communicated through hierarchy

Formal system Boss (owner) Manager Cashier Stock boy Salesman

Weber’s Theory of AUTHORITY • Laid out explanation for structure of organizations: • Charismatic • Legal/Rational • Traditional ideal type; he was aware that in empirical reality mixtures will be found in the legitimization of authority.

Charisma Cult of personality arises when an individual uses mass media, propaganda to create an idealized, heroic, and at times, god-like public image, often through unquestioning flattery and praise. (wikipedia)

Charisma Greek: “Gift from the gods” Hard to define or quantify: • “Possessing an extraordinary ability to attract and influence others” (Princeton Dictionary) • Tend to be more popular (even as children) • Hold peoples interest • Examples: Actors, singers, politicians (make or break) • Doesn’t come through on film (Hitler)

Charisma We all like to think we have it BUT… • Actually quite rare • Not just physical attractiveness (models would rule th world) • Not related to skill, ability or intelligence • Personal energy, conviction, enthusiasm AND CREDIBILITY • Name a person you think is charismatic – pictures?

Charisma Examples • US President George W. Bush: little military experience, seen as a fool, he was able to project a sense of urgency to much of the American populace about the need to attack Iraq. • “folksy” demeanor and the continual media attention of his threats to Iraq worked

Adolph Hitler • Wounded in war (messenger not a hero), Art school drop-out, he managed to convince millions of Germans to follow him. • Eventually solidified RATIONALLEGAL authority (everything the Nazis did was legal), but he started out purely on charisma • OTHER EXAMPLES?

? DOWNSIDE?

Traditional Power based on fact that role always had power: • Fathers, Mothers, Teachers • Kings, Queens, Princes, etc. • Can you think of others?

Traditional (examples) • Structured because no one can remember anything different • Rules of inheritance (passed down based on ”Tradition”) • Patrimony (“Pa” is father) based on male being in charge “because everyone knows that. ”

? DOWNSIDE? • Charles II, son of King Philip IV of Spain and his wife (and niece) Mariana • Hypersensitive, unable to chew. His tongue was so large that speech could barely be understood, frequently drooled, exhumed corpses of family members. • Retired - nervous breakdown • "short, lame, epileptic, senile, impotent and completely bald before 35, always on the verge of death” (Durant, 1981)

Rational/legal Based on a constructed hierarchy: • Boss • Managers • Police, courts • Can you think of others?

Rational/legal examples • By Law • If you don’t follow rules you go to jail! • Government, Schools, army • Can you think of others?

Rational/Legal authority versus Charismatic Having both is great (rare)John F Kennedy, Nelson Mandela (eventually) • Charismatic often trumps legal (Gandhi) bu rational/legal always has legal authority to push charismatic out (leads to revolution – example Rasputin) • Many examples of powerful, -charismatic figures (Nixon, Harper) n

INFORMAL • Constantly changing • excellent at motivation • requires insider knowledge to be seen (hallway culture) • treats people as individuals • Trust and reciprocity • Difficult to pin down • Essential for situations that change quickly

FUNCTION OF INFORMAL Perpetuate the cultural and social values Example: CEGEP class of 50 students may contain several informal groups that make the informal organization within the formal (class). • These groups may develop out of geography, study groups, or seating arrangements. • Dress codes, hairstyles, and political or religious beliefs are reinforced among the group members.

FUNCTION OF INFORMAL Provide social status and satisfaction • a worker (or student) may feel like anonymous. • Groups, however, share jokes and complaints, eat together, play and work together, and are friendswhich contributes to personal esteem, satisfaction, and a feeling of worth. • Downside: May glorify “slacker "culture: “conspiracy of incompetence” – if we all work slow, no one can complain. •

Examples • • • Culture of corruption in India “Gift giving” to get bids for contracts Corrupt police (everywhere) Slow working construction workers By the hour workers slowing work level (ask your parents) your parents about contractors)

‘Montreal's assault on lazy workers’ Mac. Lean's Magazine, M. PATRIQUIN October 8, 2007 • “Following a downtown construction crew reporters found that it took 90 hours for 10 workers to fill 10 potholes” • “So far this year the city has fired 45 city workers for laziness, incompetence and failure to show up for work, among other misdeeds”

Another Example • Sleeping transit worker in Toronto caught on I-phone made headlines all over country • Was defended by union • Over the next few weeks three others caught napping • Union backed off

FUNCTION OF INFORMAL • Promote communication among members • The informal group develops a communication channel or system • (grapevine) to keep its members informed about what management actions will affect them in various ways. • Examples in our school?

FUNCTION OF INFORMAL • Provide social control • Influences and regulates behavior inside and outside the group. Internal control persuades members of the group to conform to its lifestyle.

FUNCTION OF INFORMAL • Example, if a student starts to wear a coat and tie to class, informal group members may razz and convince the student this is not acceptable and therefore to return to sweats, jeans, and T-shirts.

FORMAL VS INFORMAL • When formal system is challenged, often leads to disputes (sometimes wars)