Legitimation mechanisms as third-dimension power practices

The case of the Shakers

Bibliographic Data

ID13041847
AuthorsMaciej Potz (0000-0003-4546-5699, University of Lodz, corresponding author)
Year2012
Volume5
Issue3
Pages377-409
Publication date2012-12-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueJournal of Political Power (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 2158-379X • E-ISSN: 2158-3803
PublisherRoutledge (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/2158379x.2012.735115
OpenAlexW2153744253
LanguageEN
Citations received2
References cited25

Using source material on the Shakers, an American communitarian religious group with a theocratic system of government, the article charts the sociopolitical development of a religious sect from charismatic to traditional authority. While focusing upon these forms of authority, the article also examines the techniques used by the power holders to establish and maintain the legitimacy of the system (theological justifications, procedures of succession, internal regulations, spiritual ‘manifestations’, etc.), which are interpreted in terms of three-dimensional power practices. The two theoretical perspectives, Weberian and Lukesian, respectively, are combined to facilitate examination and explanation of theocratic mechanisms of 0power

Centrality · Centralized government · Charisma · Charismatic authority · Dimension (graph theory · Government (linguistics · Law and economics · Legitimacy · Legitimation · Political science · Politics · Power (physics · Sociology · Theocracy · American Constitutional Law and Politics · Law · Mormonism, Religion, and History · Philosophy · Religion and Society Interactions