The Dual Nature of Authority and Its Generative Capacity

Authority is a controversial and complex term. It refers to a social process that shapes intersubjective and institutional relationships. This article aims to discuss ‘authority’ starting from the meaning of the term and its controversial history, and then to identify the characteristics of its dual nature. This duality is inherent in authority itself and can be seen as the relation between the instituted forms of society and the innovative, creative forces that drive change through human social actions and interactions. This may help us to reconsider authority and its contribution to social life from a perspective of generating change.