Bernie Sanders Situation Analysis

The social situation presented by a political rally demonstrates several relations of authority. In terms of the recent Bernie Sanders rally in Oakland, California, two authority relations of particular interest were that between rally leader/follower and parent/child. Interactions between these groups of individuals were recorded in the form of field notes. The field notes I wrote recorded details of interpersonal relations with respect to spatiality, authority figures, verbal and nonverbal communication, and larger social forces. These notes, along with connections to sociologists such as Stanley Milgram, Max Weber, and Émile Durkheim, were used to substantiate claims pertaining to sociological power and obedience. In a larger context, …show more content…
For supporters of Bernie Sanders, the prospect of a federal government that caters to the interests of the people rather than corporations and oligarchs is a rallying point. This is especially true for millennials, a demographic group that is politically disillusioned and disengaged. Sociologically, the surge of populism reflects a desire of many Americans for a more equitable, fair, and representative society. By staging a political rally for Bernie Sanders in Oakland, many residents of the Bay Area demanded a change in the current circumstance(s) of governance and representation. The rally leaders, in turn, tapped into these desires to mobilize the masses by means of political activism and liberal ideologies. Their rally calls, speeches, and picket signs all conveyed messages of equity, hope, and populism that catered to their followers ' desires. The followers ' obedience and loyalty to the rally leaders was clear: they unhesitatingly listened, took part in ("call and response"), and cheered the rally leaders ' actions. The social situation of American politics defined the relationship between rally leader/follower, and the followers exhibited the willingness of the rally followers to obey their …show more content…
If we analyze the rally leader/follower authority relation, we find that the rally leaders exhibit two types of authority, rational-legal authority and charismatic authority, over their followers. Certainly, the rally leaders exhibit rational-legal authority through their support of different governmental rules and regulations. For example, rally leaders such as the charismatic Caucasian emphatically supported universal healthcare ("Obamacare") and Wall Street regulations (Glass-Steagall Act). Likewise, they called for new policies on limiting the influence of political action groups, different tax schemes (which would benefit the poor), and further regulations on large banks. These policies, the political platform of Bernie Sanders, exemplify Weber 's notion of rational-legal authority. At the same time, the rally leaders exhibited charismatic authority. The crowds at the rally were clearly mesmerized by some of the speakers (e.g. charismatic Caucasian and rambunctious African American)—followers emphatically reacted or replied in support of the rally leaders ' speeches and rally calls. The followers obediently received and agreed with most, if not all, of their leaders ' messages. Meanwhile, traditional authority can adequately describe the parent/child authority relation. The timeless custom of deference and obedience by children to