“Power and Powerlessness”

John Gaventa
 Power and Participation

Explaining Quiescence
Why, in circumstances of inequality, do challenges to that
inequality not
always occur? “What is there in certain situations of social
deprivation that
prevents issues from arising, grievances from being voiced, or
interests from
being recognized?”

How do we explain inaction in the face of inequality. This is the key

question
Gaventa is attempting to answer.
 Power and Participation

Gaventa Thesis: Political Participation Shaped by Power (4)

“In situations of inequality, the political response of the deprived
group or class may be seen as a function of power relationships…”
 Protocols of Persuasion

What is the Nature of Power? (4)

Lukes: Three dimensions or faces of power.

1) First: Pluralists
2) Second: Agenda-Setting
3) Third: Hegemony
 Three Faces of Power

1) One-Dimensional Approach: Pluralists (5)

Theory of Power: A has power over B to the extent that A can get
B to do something he otherwise would not do.

Characteristics of A Plural System:

1) Grievances are freely acted upon, when they develop.
2) System is open “to virtually every group”
3) Leaders function not as “elites,” but as
representatives and may be studied as such.
 Three Faces of Power

1) One-Dimensional Approach: Pluralists (5)

Theory of Non-Participation: Since system is open, and there is no

block no getting involved, non-participation is thought to result
from inertia, or apathy. That is, it results from some personal
defect of those who do not participate. (6-7)
 Three Faces of Power

Two-Dimensional Approach: Agenda-Setting (8)

Schattschneider: non-participation results from the “suppression of

options.”

“Whoever decides what the game is about also decides who gets
in the game.” (8-9)
 Three Faces of Power

Two-Dimensional Approach: Agenda-Setting (8)

Bachrach and Baratz: Power works to shape not only who is

included and excluded, but also which issues and problems are
included and excluded. (9)
 Three Faces of Power

Two-Dimensional Approach: Agenda-Setting (8)

Mobilization of Bias:
Organizations are designed to favor certain individuals or issues
and disadvantage others.

Example: US Steel and Air Pollution (9)

Gary Indiana: People did not pursue air pollution issue, or
challenge US Steel because of its assumed power. “The reputation
for power may have been more important than its exercise. It
could have enabled US Steel to prevent political action without
taking action itself.” (9)
 Three Faces of Power

Alternate Theory of non-participation

Inaction is related to power:

Limits of Second Face: Does not Consider How Power May Effect

Conception of Grievances (10-11)

It failures to see that the absence of a grievance may itself be a
consequence of power. (11)
 Three Faces of Power

Three-Dimensional Approach: Hegemony (11)

Theory of Power: “Not only might A exercise power over B by
prevailing in the resolution of a key issue, but also through
affecting B’s conceptions of issues altogether.”

A over B
Power is ability not only to get B to do A wants, whether B
wanted to or not, but to directly shape what B wants, or thinks
“he” wants. (12)
 Three Faces of Power

Three-Dimensional Approach: Hegemony (11)

This type of control may happen in absence of conflict, which has
been averted.

Theory of Participation
Theory of Power cannot focus on actually behavior: it must
consider also the way in which “potential” conflicts or debates are
avoided, or prevented from ever occurring. (12)

Both 2nd and 3rd faces of Power help us explain inaction in the face of
inequality.
 Three Faces of Power

Face of Power Features Inaction

Pluralism System is unfair, Apathy, and

but open. You ignorance.
can act on your
grievances.

Agenda-Setting Those who Rational

control the calculation.
agenda, control
policy outcomes.
Hegemony Those who shape Consequences of
perception, power:
define what is grievances are
politically not recognized.
possible.