Abstract

The article aims to show the central elements of the theoretical basis of Weber's sociology of power, especially in two writings, Kategorienaufsatz (1913) and "Sociologische Grundbegriffe" (1919-20). Following a comparative analysis of the two texts, the Author stresses that one of the distinctive features of this second stage of Weber's methodological formulation in comparison to the essays written up to 1908 can be individuated in the very attempt to define a theoretical and conceptual basis for the analysis of power relationships, which represents the new distinctive research feature of "Wirtschaft und Gesellschaft"'s sociology in comparison to the scientific activity of the previous years. The analysis of the category of "mutual consent action" allows both to shed light upon the straight derivation from it of the concepts of "power" and "legitimacy", and to emphasize the consequent theoretical development of Weber's sociology of power.