Legitimate Control and “Organizational Transcendence”

Organizations as collectives act in ways not predictable from their members' attitudes. This paper argues that, contrary to Michels (1962), such organizational transcendence of members' attitudes may be a legitimate result of organized pursuit of collective goals. The legitimacy of “organi...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Social forces 1975-09, Vol.54 (1), p.199-211
Main Author: Wood, James R.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Black people
Church congregations
Church/Churches
Churches
Civil rights
Oligarchy
Organization/Organizations/ Organizational/ Organize/ Organizers/ Organized/ Organizing
Pastors
Polities
Protestantism
Religious buildings
Transcendental
Voluntary associations
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Summary:Organizations as collectives act in ways not predictable from their members' attitudes. This paper argues that, contrary to Michels (1962), such organizational transcendence of members' attitudes may be a legitimate result of organized pursuit of collective goals. The legitimacy of “organizational transcendence” (a variety of emergence) is explored in the context of local churches' efforts for racial justice, including their responses to the 1969 “Black Manifesto.” The relationships between organizational transcendence and two types of legitimate control, formal and attributed legitimacy, are discussed. While both are related to transcendence, attributed legitimacy appears more directly so. Formal legitimacy is conducive to the maintenance of attributed legitimacy, which mediates much of its effect on transcendence.
ISSN:0037-7732
1534-7605
DOI:10.1093/sf/54.1.199