An anthology of major writings that convey the different concepts of political authority put forward by rulers and theorists of the past 2,000 years. The continuing question of who can legitimately assume power among people has been dealt with by philosophers and religious leaders, by monarchs and revolutionaries, by observers and practitioners, by pioneers of American democracy and modern advocates of Fascism and Marxism. This book enables the reader to see comparisons and contrasts in a wide variety of political theories by presenting the basic texts of the great political theorists. Political scientists are generally agreed that the exercise of power is the central focus and substance of political behavior. This anthology presents several broad patterns of political rulership—power exercised by men of great wisdom; power justified by divine sanction; power as an end in itself; power as a democratic concept; power based on tradition and custom; power exercised by the elite. These theories are exemplified in the chosen key writings, each selection prefaced by useful explanations and pertinent historical facts.