权力与权威：新的解释

Power and Authority:New Perspectives

权力与权威是政治学的核心范畴。从政治学的角度看,权力是迫使对方服从的制度性强制力量,权威是一种使对象因信服而顺从的影响力,两者的实质性区别是强制服从和自愿服从。在中国的传统语境中,没有作为现代政治学核心范畴的"权力"与"权威"概念,然而,中国传统政治哲学中的两个重要范畴"霸道"("以力服人",常人治理国家的方式)与"王道"("以德服人",圣人治理国家的理想模式)同现代政治学中的"权力"与"权威"概念极为相似。在某种程度上可以说,"王道"与"霸道"的概念就是中国传统的"权力"与"权威"概念。现代政治区别于传统政治的本质特征,就是社会政治生活从官员的权力本位转向公民的权利本位。这一实质性的转变。

Power and authority are the key concepts in political science. Put it simply, power represents a kind of institutional coercion through which obedience of the subjects will be extracted. In contrast, authority involves the ability to induce obedience through convincing the subjects. The essen- tial difference between the two concepts can be summarized as ＂forced obedience vs. voluntary obedience＂. It＇s noteworthy that two major conceptions in traditional Chinese political philosophy correspond closely to the concept of ＂power＂ and ＂authority＂ in modern political science. The first con- ception is called Badao （Hegemonic Way）, which means to extract obedience through coercion, and it is the basic ruling modality for mediocre rulers in traditional China. The second is called Wangdao （Kingly Way）, which means to induce obedience through virtue and benevolence, and it is the ideal ruling modality for sage-like rulers （Shengren） . As a break from traditional politics, modern politics necessitates the fundamental transition from the logic of power （exclusively dominated by the rulers） to the logic of right （equally open to all citizens） . Such a transition utterly changed the legitimacy source o{ power and authority, reshaped the institutional environment of a given society as a whole and substantively altered these mechanisms through which power is translated into authority. Only by moving towards democracy, rule of law and good governance can a strengthened political authority meet the demands of modern political civilization.