Concept Of Power

 

Concept Of Power: Hegemony, Ideology And Legitimacy.

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 Thinkers Such As Machiavelli And Hobbes Advocated The Study Of Power As A Central Subject Of Politics.   Hobbes Wrote: "There Is A General Inclination Of All Mankind, A Perpetual And Restless Desire For Power After Power That Ended Only In Death.   "

The Concept Of Power Is Generally Understood As The Control, Authority, Or Influence Over Others, A Relationship In Which An Individual Or Group Is Able To Exert Influence Over The Mind And Actions Of Others.  

 Contemporary Reflections On Power And Authority

 1.   Power Is Central To The Understanding And Practice Of Politics.   It Can Be Exercised At Three Levels: Through The Ability To Make Or Influence Decisions; Through The Ability To Set Agendas And Prevent Decision-Making; And Through The Ability To Manipulate What People Think And Want.  

 2.   Power Is The Ability To Influence The Behavior Of Others By Virtue Of The Ability To Reward Or Punish.   Conversely, Authority Is The Right To Influence Others By Virtue Of Performing Their Accepted Duty.   Weber Distinguished Between Three Types Of Authority: Traditional Rights Based On Custom And History; Charismatic Authority, Power Of Personality; And The Legal Rational Authority Derived From The Formal Powers Of An Office Or Position.  

 3.  Power Provokes Deep Political And Ideological Disagreements.   Some Consider It Essential For The Maintenance Of An Orderly, Stable And Healthy Society, Providing Clear Guidance And Support To Individuals.   Others Have Warned That Authority Becomes The Enemy Of Liberty And Undermines Reason And Moral Responsibility; Power Leads To Authoritarianism.  

 4.   Legitimacy Refers To The 'authority' Of The Political System.   It Is Important For The Stability And Long-Term Existence Of A System Of Governance As It Is Considered Appropriate Or Acceptable.   Legitimacy May Require Conformance To Widely Accepted Constitutional Rules And Broad Public Support; But It Can Also Be Produced Through A Process Of Ideological Manipulation And Control For The Benefit Of The Political Or Social Elite.  

 

Legitimacy Is Usually Seen As The Basis Of Stable Government, Linked To The Ability Of A Regime To Control The Loyalty And Support Of Its Citizens.   All Governments Want Legitimacy, But On What Basis Do They Achieve It, And What Happens When Their Legitimacy Is Questioned.