Knowra Power (social and political) Power (social and political) Power is the capacity to influence decisions, control resources, or shape other people’s actions and opportunities. It can operate through force, institutions, economic dependence, norms, or control over what is considered possible.
Agenda-setting : The process of shaping which issues receive attention and consideration in decision-making. Controlling what gets discussed can influence outcomes without directly choosing them.
Michel Foucault : A French philosopher whose work examined power, knowledge, institutions, and the formation of subjects. His account treats power as productive and dispersed through ordinary practices.
State (polity) : A political organization that governs a population within a territory through institutions and claims to authority. States concentrate lawmaking, administration, and enforcement in durable institutions.
Influence : The capacity to affect another person’s beliefs, choices, or actions. Influence overlaps with power but need not involve control over resources or institutions.
Political legitimacy : The belief that a political authority or system has a justified right to govern. Power accepted as legitimate can secure compliance without constant coercion.
Coercion : The use or threat of force, penalties, or other pressure to constrain another’s choices. It shows how power can shape actions by making alternatives costly.
Steven Lukes : A political theorist known for analyzing power through decision-making, agenda control, and preference shaping. His three-dimensional framework distinguishes observable conflict from less visible influence.
Bureaucracy : An organization structured through offices, rules, specialized roles, and hierarchical authority. Administrative routines shape how decisions and resources reach people.
Authority : Recognized or accepted right to make decisions, issue directives, or enforce rules. Unlike power in general, authority rests on an accepted claim to legitimacy.
Social mobility : Movement of individuals or groups between social positions, often measured across generations. Power affects access to the opportunities that enable movement between positions.
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