FAQ About Hannah Arendt

Hannah Arendt distinguished between authority and power in her political theory. She viewed authority as legitimate power exercised by institutions and leaders based on tradition, law, or moral consensus, whereas power is rooted in the collective will of a community or group. Arendt argued that authority is essential for maintaining social cohesion and political order, but it must be distinguished from authoritarianism, which imposes control through coercion and fear. Power, in her view, is more fragile as it relies on group consensus and cooperation.