Weber's discussion of authority relationships also provides insight into what is happening in the modern world. Again, he uses the perfect guy to begin addressing these questions. Weber distinguishes three main types of authority: traditional authority, rational legal authority and charismatic authority. Rational legal authority is rooted in impersonal rules that have been legally established. This type of authority now characterizes social relations in modern societies. Traditional authority often dominates premodern societies. It is based on the belief in the sacred character of tradition, of the eternal yesterday. Finally, charismatic authority relies on the appeal of leaders who claim their allegiance because of the strength of their extraordinary personality. Again, it should be kept in mind that Weber is describing an ideal type; he was aware that in empirical reality, we would find mixtures in the legitimization of