Authority only exists if an entity has the power to exert its will over others, whether physically, socially, or systemically. If someone has the ability to say “no” and disregard a mandate it threatens the power of that authority to maintain social or systemic control.

Thus, power will always come down to the ability to physically force dissenters, after the methods of social and systemic forces fail to ensure compliance, from being able to reject the mandates of that authority or carry with it consequences that far outweigh the benefits of dissent. Otherwise, that entity has no actual control, as others could always simply disregard their mandates without consequence.

Hierarchical authority ensures its power to exert physical force without repercussions through the “rule of law” establishing mandates which employ systemic violence — and subsequently social violence through being labeled a “criminal” —against those who break said mandates, unless individuals performing these illegal actions have immunity from the law granted by the ruling authority. This ensures the population is conditioned to be hesitant to employ physical force to assert their autonomy, as doing so could come with major consequences, whereas the state can employ it freely to deter dissenting their authority.

Clown colours. Nice.