Download Power

Power
Power is the capacity or capability by
which we are able to change the behaviour
of others and from them we can get the
things done according to our liking and if
they do not act likewise, then they can be
punished. Max Weber, Georage Catlin,
Robert A Dahl, Morgenthau etc consider
power as central to the study of politics.
Characteristics of power









Power is the capacity to impose your will on others
Power is relational and inter-relational
It goes with situations and office
It is backed by threat of severe deprivation
Power is concerned with external influence
Power is not something material
Power keeps on fluctuating power is backed by
sanctions
It is always used for specific purpose
Opposite interest are must for the use of power
Sources of power







The people
Constitution
Parliamentary laws
Conventions
Knowledge and capability
Organization
Social status



Religious status
Control over mass media
Economic position




Charismatic personality
Faith
Skill
Authority
Different forms of power

Economic power-: it means ownership of
means of production.

Political power-: it is the power by which the
administrative decisions are taken and implemented
and those who disobey these decisions are punished.

Ideological power-:An ideology is a
collection of ideas. Typically, each ideology contains
certain ideas on what it considers to be the best form
of government (e.g. democracy, theocracy, etc.), and
the best economic system (e.g. capitalism, socialism,
etc.). political parties base their political action and
program on an ideology.

National power-:
national power is the
collective power of a nation which includes
economic, political, emotional and military power of
a nation. It is through the use of this power, a nation
establish relation with other countries and gets its will
enforced on other nations.
Methods to exercise power

Traditional methods-: the use of force, to
create fear, use of cleverness, to divide and rule, to
harass the opponent, to give decoration and political
offices are some of the traditional techniques of the
use of political power.

Modern methods-:propaganda, control over
education system, wide use of violence

Distinctive methods-: to tell a lie and to
make the people believe what you say, to promise
victory are such methods which were used by Hitler
in Germany at wide spread level.
Criticism of the concept of power




Power is not a mean but an end
Excessive importance to the use of physical force
Power should be linked with ethical values
Power is a social process
Conclusion
After going through the different views, we
can conclude that power plays an important role in
politics. The complete study of politics is not possible
until we study the struggle for power among various
communities, ruling class, opposite groups, pressure
groups and political parties etc. but to consider
politics as only the study of struggle for power is not
correct.
References






Aggarwal R.C., Principles of Political Science, S.Chand
Company, New Delhi, 1976.
Badyal, J.S, Political Theory, Raj Publishers, 2012, Jalander.
Garner James Wildford, Political Science and Government,
The World Press Priviate LTD. Calcutta, 1951.
Gauba O.P, An Introduction to Political Theory, Macmillan
Publisher, Delhi, 2009.
Heywood Andrew, Political Theory An Introduction, Palgrave
Macmillan, New York, 2005.
Misra K.K & Iyengar Kalpana. M, Modern Political Theory,
S.Chand Company, New Delhi, 1988.


Ray Amal, Political Theory Idess and
Institutions, The World Press Priviate LTD.
Calcutta, 1988
Johari J.C, Principles of Modern Political
Science, Sterling Publishers, New Delhi, 1989.




By
Dr. AMANDIP KAUR
DEPTT. OF POLITICAL SCIENCE,
PGGCG, SEC. 11, CHANDIGARH.