Max Weber: Politics as a vocation

Passage:

Well first of all the career of politics grants a feeling of power. The knowledge of influencing men, of participating in power over them and above all, the feeling of holding in one's hands a nerve fiber of historically important events can elevate the professional politician above everyday routine even when he is placed in formally modest positions. But now the question for him is: Through what qualities can I hope to do justice to this power (however narrowly circumscribed it may be in the individual case)? How can he hope to do justice to the responsibility that power imposes upon him? With this we enter the field of ethical questions, for that is where the problem belongs: What kind of a man must one be if he is to be allowed to put his hand on the wheel of history?

Meaning:

The first sentence in this passage sent the tone for everything else. The career of politics grants a feeling of power. This is the essence to most people that run for any form of leadership. Having the sense of power and being in control. It kind of relates back to Feud Ig and ego. Trying not the let the feeling power interfere with their obligations as leaders. This man or leader must be an example and must set a trend as a leader. Not only must he perform his duties as a leader but he must also make a benchmark sort of speak as a leader.

Reason:

The reason I chose this passage because in a sense a role of leadership represents power. It gives man and women a sense of accomplishment, achievement a sense of belonging. This passage speaks volume especially for Germany next leader Hitler. He took his role of leadership to a different level, which he let his authority role get the best of him. Leaders must lead by example and I think this is the importance overall of the passage.


Charles Tilly: State Formation as organized crime:

Tilly's argument relate to the theory of rationalization of the state as defined by Weber because Tilly claims that the leader or ruler or presidents tries to justify a situation whenever its suitable for them. For example he uses that when a country or state goes to war, in order to recruit more a pirate will become a sailor and a bandit will become a trooper. As long as the help is needed, then there original purpose is no longer a bad thing. But once their motive or objective is seen in terms of a war, and their services are no longer needed then they too become what they once were; illegal citizens. One of the main causes that makes a state grow is war. War brings power, which eventually leads to some ones turf being taken over.