Understanding Power in Political Science

Oct 6, 2024

Lecture on Power in Political Science

Introduction to Power

  • Power is a critical yet elusive concept in political science.
  • Retreat: Discussion on new ways of thinking about power and resources.
  • Power is a tricky idea with varied definitions and perceptions.
  • Influence of ideology on perceptions of free choice.

Nature of Power

  • Power is often invisible and deeply embedded in rules, practices, institutions, and structures.
  • Experience of power varies among individuals and groups.
  • Power can be micro (individual) or systemic (intersectional).
  • Political science focuses on correlations rather than causations.

Concepts of Power

  • Power To: Ability to achieve political ends through individual and collective action.

    • Idealized in liberal democracies.
    • Complicated by who articulates ideas and how.
    • Impact of media and technology on political discourse.
  • Power Over (to be discussed next):

    • Will address control and dominance aspects of power.

Pluralism and Democracy

  • Democracy as a hive of competing groups with different interests.
  • Critical view: Not everyone can organize and advance their interests equally.
  • Challenges in mobilizing resources, e.g., geographic and weather constraints.
  • Assumptions of pluralism may not align with true democratic ideals.

Social Movements and Change

  • Mechanisms of social change: social movements, mass protests, rebellions.
  • Effectiveness of these mechanisms can change over time.
  • Resource mobilization and advocacy by groups are central to democratic processes.

Intersectionality and Group Dynamics

  • Group memberships, both online and offline, mediate individual actions and influence.
  • Intersectionality plays a role in how voices and actions are perceived and valued.
  • Public vs. private behavior and the influence of movements like #MeToo.

Conclusion

  • Power dynamics reproduce forms of oppression and exclusion.
  • Need to understand how power operates within and across groups.
  • Upcoming discussion: Power over.

This lecture provides a comprehensive overview of the concept of power in political science, emphasizing its complexity and the various ways it can be understood and studied.