Final answer:
Max Weber identified three types of authority: traditional, based on customs; charismatic, based on personal qualities; and legal-rational, based on laws and procedures. Charismatic authority is less stable than legal-rational authority, which is system-based.
Step-by-step explanation:
The ideal types of authority identified by sociologist Max Weber are traditional authority, charismatic authority, and legal-rational authority. Traditional authority is derived from long-standing customs, habits, and social structures. Charismatic authority arises from an individual's personal appeal and extraordinary characteristics that inspire loyalty and devotion. Legal-rational authority is based on established laws, rules, and procedures, often embodied in institutions that govern with a legal mandate.
Within these types, charismatic authority tends to be the most unstable, as it is heavily dependent on the presence and influence of the individual leader. Historical examples of charisma include leaders like Martin Luther King Jr. and Mahatma Gandhi. In contrast, legal-rational authority, like that exemplified by modern-day democratic systems, relies on a formal set of rules and offices to maintain order and is less dependent on the person occupying the position of authority.
Understanding Weber's three types of authority is essential for analyzing and interpreting various forms of governance, leadership, and organizational structures within societies.