Notes on Power and Its Legitimacy

The article examines three points of view on the nature of power, and the author believes that power, although it belongs to the social whole, is exercised by people and is therefore anthropologically determined. At the same time, he considers sociality within the framework of a cultural approach. Examples of historically early and later forms of awareness of power are analyzed. Based on this analysis, a concept of power and an explanation of its legitimacy are proposed. The author believes that the two-layer structure of power (socio-cultural structure (order) and anthropological basis) allows us to understand both its normal functioning and, so to speak, “deviant social deviations” (anomies). Examples of both are given. The ideas about power and legitimacy proposed by the author should be considered as ideal-typical constructions according to M. Weber. That is, these are diagrams that allow one to schematize empirical material and navigate it. When the researcher encounters new types of power, these schemes must be adjusted or new schemes must be introduced.