"Power is the social production of an effect that determines the capacities, actions, beliefs, or conduct of actors."
The distribution of resources, authority, and influence within society, and the ways in which these structures are created and maintained through political processes.
Power Structures: The various social structures that determine the distribution of power in a society, such as economic, political, and social hierarchies.
Political Systems: The various systems of governance, such as democracy, dictatorship, and oligarchy. Understanding these systems can help explain the power dynamics at play in government.
Political Ideologies: The different political beliefs and values that shape political thought and influence political behavior.
Power Dynamics: The relationship between individuals or groups in terms of who has more power and influence, and how power is exercised.
Political Culture: The set of shared values, beliefs, and attitudes that shape the relationship between individuals and the state.
Social Movements: The collective actions of groups of people aiming to bring about social change, often in response to issues of power and inequality.
Interest Groups: Organized groups of individuals who advocate for specific policy or social changes in order to gain greater power or influence.
Lobbying: The activities individuals or groups undertake to influence policy makers, including direct communication with elected officials, public demonstrations or protests, and political donations.
Public Opinion: The attitudes and beliefs of the general public about political and social issues, which can have a significant impact on political decision-making.
Political Participation: The ways in which individuals engage in the political process, including voting, joining political parties, and engaging in activism or other forms of advocacy.
Political Parties: Organizations that represent groups of individuals with similar political beliefs and values and aim to gain political power through elections and other political processes.
Political Socialization: The process through which individuals learn about politics and develop their political beliefs and values.
Political Power and Influence: The ability of individuals or groups to affect decision-making and create change in a political or social system.
Political Economy: The study of the relationship between politics and the economy, including the distribution of wealth, resources, and power.
Coercive power: Refers to authority perceived in punishment or threats by a superior power, where subordinate parties or individuals have no choice but to comply.
Reward power: Refers to the capacity to provide incentives to individuals in exchange for compliance. It works by offering rewards or benefits, such as bonuses or promotions, to individuals who comply with the expectation.
Legitimate power: Refers to the authority that a person or group possesses based on their position or status within an organization or society.
Referent power: Refers to the power derived from personal charisma, admiration, or respect for an individual.
Expert power: Refers to the power derived from an individual's knowledge or expertise in a specific field.
Informational power: Refers to the ability to control access to critical information.
Persuasive power: Refers to the power derived from the ability to influence or persuade others to conform with one's ideas or beliefs.
Network power: Refers to the capacity to control access to resources or opportunities by manipulating social or institutional networks.
Soft power: Refers to the power derived from the ability to influence others by non-coercive means, such as diplomacy, culture, or education.
Hard power: Refers to the use of force or coercion to achieve or maintain power or influence.
"Power does not exclusively refer to the threat or use of force (coercion) by one actor against another."
"Power may also be exerted through diffuse means (such as institutions)."
"Power may also take structural forms, as it orders actors in relation to one another."
"Discursive forms of power exist as categories and language may lend legitimacy to some behaviors and groups over others."
"The term authority is often used for power that is perceived as legitimate or socially approved by the social structure."
"Power can be seen as evil or unjust; however, power can also be seen as good and as something inherited or given for exercising humanistic objectives that will help, move, and empower others as well."
"Scholars have distinguished between soft power and hard power."
"Power is the social production of an effect that determines the capacities, actions, beliefs, or conduct of actors."
"Power may also be exerted through diffuse means (such as institutions)."
"Power takes structural forms, as it orders actors in relation to one another."
"Categories and language may lend legitimacy to some behaviors and groups over others."
"The term authority is often used for power that is perceived as legitimate or socially approved by the social structure."
"Power can be seen as evil or unjust; however, power can also be seen as good."
"Power can be inherited or given for exercising humanistic objectives that will help, move, and empower others."
"Power can also be seen as good and as something inherited or given for exercising humanistic objectives that will help, move, and empower others."
"Scholars have distinguished between soft power and hard power."
"Power may take structural forms, discursive forms, and can be exerted through diffuse means."
"Power orders actors in relation to one another (such as distinguishing between a master and an enslaved person, a householder and their relatives, an employer and their employees, a parent and a child, a political representative and their voters...)."
"The term authority is often used for power that is perceived as legitimate or socially approved by the social structure."