Herrschaft

Herrschaft is a German term that denotes rule, governance, or domination exercised by an individual, group, or institution over others. It covers forms of authority, the capacity to compel obedience, and the legitimacy attributed to those who wield power. The word derives from Herr (master, lord) with the suffix -schaft, indicating a standing, practice, or system.

In scholarly usage, Herrschaft implies more than mere power; it often entails some form of legitimacy recognized by those governed. The concept is frequently distinguished from power in the broad sense, emphasizing the social acceptance and organizational basis of command, whether through custom, legality, or personal authority.

Max Weber’s analysis of Herrschaft is central in sociology. He identified three ideal types of legitimate domination: traditional authority, based on long-standing customs and the sanctity of established roles; charismatic authority, grounded in the personal qualities and leadership of a compelling figure; and rational-legal authority, anchored in formal rules, offices, and bureaucratic procedures. These forms can transform into one another over historical time and may coexist within a single polity.

Historically, Herrschaft is closely associated with feudal lordship and later with the rise of centralized, bureaucratic states. In contemporary usage, it often refers to state or institutional authority and the ways in which legitimacy, ideology, and coercion sustain governance. Analyses of Herrschaft address how power is exercised, legitimized, and contested within social structures, including class relations, institutional arrangements, and cultural norms.

See also: Authority, Legitimacy, State, Monarchy, Bureaucracy.