Political power

Political power is the capacity to shape collective decisions, institutions, or outcomes. It can operate through authority, coercion, control of resources, or influence over what societies consider politically possible.

Authority: The recognized right to make decisions or issue commands that others are expected to follow. Authority turns some uses of political power into accepted rule rather than mere coercion.
State (polity): A political organization claiming authority over a territory and its population. The state concentrates and organizes many forms of political power.
Pluralism (political theory): A theory that sees political influence as dispersed among competing groups rather than monopolized by one elite. Pluralism challenges accounts that treat political power as concentrated in a ruling bloc.
Political inequality: Unequal ability among people or groups to influence political decisions and outcomes. It describes how differences in power translate into unequal political voice.
Coercion: The use or threat of force, penalties, or deprivation to make someone comply. Coercion shows how political power can secure compliance without consent.
Political authority: The recognized right to govern and make binding political decisions. It distinguishes accepted rule from the broader capacity to shape outcomes.
Elite theory: The view that a relatively small, cohesive minority holds disproportionate political influence. It offers a direct alternative to explanations centered on broad competition among groups.
Policy capture: A process in which public decisions become persistently directed toward the interests of a narrow group. Capture shows how concentrated influence can redirect institutions from broader public purposes.
Agenda-setting: The process of shaping which issues receive attention and consideration in decision-making. Power can determine which choices reach political debate at all.
Legitimacy (political): The belief that a political order or authority has a rightful claim to rule. Perceived legitimacy can make power durable without constant force.

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