Daily Times

Sir: Why does power have no brain but authority does? Because power is indiscreet and authority acts in a methodical manner; because power is abrupt and authority is calculating; because power cannot be decentralised while authority? There seems to be no difference between the two when it comes to perception but when it comes to practice both perform differently. Needless to say, both complement each other; authority exercises power, power creates effect and effect raises the demand for authority.

The obvious target in the discussion on power and authority is governance. The discussion obviously focuses on the initiative, the inventiveness, the value for relationships, the distinction between friend and foe, and the difference between ruler and statesman, which are recognisable topics in the study of governance. A ruler by design exercises power not authority; irrespective of whether he is benevolent or forbidding, his outlook doesn’t change. A statesman, on the other hand, exercises authority but doesn’t allow power to dominate authority. To cut a long story short, we have yet to find a statesman who could exercise authority and manage power.

Masood Anwar

Rawalpndi