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    Power

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    ASISH THE GAMER

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    © All Rights Reserved
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    13 CONCEPT OF POWER | NATURE AND SIGNIFICANCE OF POWER Significance of Power ‘Power’ may be regarded as one of the central concepts of political science. [t j, said that the concept of power holds the same status in the realm of political soj. ence as held by the concept of money in the realm of economics. The focus on power emancipates the study of politics from the status of an appendage to the study of philosophy or history or law. It also transcends the realm of formal instj- tutions to focus on the teal motives and objectives of human beings which lie behind all political activity and institution-building. = During the early phase of development of modern political science, Frederick’ ‘Watkins had observed: “The proper scope of political science is not the study of the state or of any other specific institutional complex, but the investigation of all associations insofar as they can be shown to exemplify the problem of power” (The State as a Concept of Political Science; 1934). This view was confirmed by William A. Robson who suggested: “It is with power in society that political sci- ence is primarily concerned—its nature, basis, processes, scope and results ... The ‘focus of interest’ of the political scientist is clear and unambiguous; it cen- tres on the struggle to gain or retain power, to exercise power or influence over others, or to resist that exercise” (The University Teaching of Social Sciences: Political Science; 1954). In fact, the significance of power in the political phenomenon was brought out by traditional thinkers like Machiavelli (1469-1527), Hobbes (1588-1679) and Nietzche (1844-1900) as well as by modem writers like Max Weber, Catlin, Merriam, Lasswell, Kaplan, Watkins, Trietschke and Morgenthau. The exponents of the ‘power’ view of politics focus on the study of ‘the acquisition, maintenance and loss of power’ H. Lasswell and A. Kaplan (Power and Society; 1950) have defined political science as "the Study of the shaping and sharing of power". Max Weber's definition of politics also implies a focus on power in the context of national as well as international politics: “Politics is the struggle for power or the influencing of those in power, and embraces the struggle between states as such as Concept of Powar onized groups within the state” (cited in Gp yo08 05), Accordingly, Michael Cutts (Comparative Oy as observed: “Politics is organized dispute ab hoice among competing values, ideas ucidating the scope of the study of politi is concerned with the description btained, exercised and controlled shih Por janet in which decisions are made, fact 7 ie ecisions and the context in which those «to tant for the study of politics, what is m 590! 249 - Catlin) Systematic Government and Pot. out power and its Use, 5, interests and trtis continues: “The and analysis of the manner in 1, the purposes for which it ig O18 which influence the making decisions take plac icant by power? iti of po awd ‘ower is ol ”. If power yeaing of POWET é Russel ( Power: New Soctal Anas 1938) has defined power as ‘the = juction of intences eee Ouien words, power denotes the ability ofa per- © ull his desires or to achieve his objectives. In popular parlance the term ser may be used in multifarious contexts. For instance, we talk ofthe power Fan over nature or material things, and the power of man over man, Most of ibe theorists of power, including Russel, prefer to restrict its use to ‘power over human beings’. Thus Robert Dahl (Modern Political Analysis; 1991) defines wyeras kind of influence; it is exercised ‘when compliance is attained by ere- ‘sagihe prospect of severe sanctions for non-compliance’. H.V. Wiseman (Polit il Systems: Some Sociological Approaches; 1966) defines power as ‘the ability togetone’s wishes carried out despite opposition’. Stephen L. Wasby’(Political Stiee—The Discipline and its Dimensions; 1972) has similarly observed: | tower is generally thought to involve bringing about of an action by someone aqainst the will or desire of another.” | Allthese definitions give prominence to that aspect of power which is exer- ced by a man or a group over an ‘unwilling’ lot. They are, therefore, one-sided. | Power, to be effective and stable, often takes the character of ‘authority’ which abo comprehends legitimacy; that is, the capacity to secure willing obedience. Use of force or coercion or sanctions may be resorted to only when legitimacy fils to work. It is authority which ensures social acceptance and effective imple- entation of rules, policies and decisions. Its, therefore, necessary to understand the precise relationship between Power, authority and legitimacy. I POWER, AUTHORITY AND LEGITIMACY = | ss B Authority = Power + Legitimacy - i as iti mal ®tly consists of two important components: Power and Legitimacy. Legit legge * tule or decision implies that the members of society treat that mie on "Nas beneficial to society as well as to themselves. So they willingly tend to fo Political ThEOTY ‘An Introduction t ty to get a decision obeyed 5 b Power alone invo to peta against theit wi on vf, Maclver The I eb of Government; 1965) pect Me capacity 10 ANY relationship to command the gen’ °F power may involve Use of ‘force’, but servige gee El when they regard the command a me 8 “Tighe, 250 + Ives cal compliance of others ance or others will bes! be obtained * power, to be effective and stable, must be accom; .e. Use of force or coercion panied by 8 ‘ANCtiog, *penelic ial the capacity 10 secure willin) pe resorted 10 only whe legit thority may be CHvisane Tegitimacy is bas most effective ins 1, abedicn' hacy fails to work if we think S power ae ay ras a sword in its scabbard\tt don respect and willing conta’ trament of exercising pow Wer inthe | ‘good! oF ma naked sword sar or fOrees therefore, the based on fe Authont sphere of politics, Max Weber) (186 stlys ha 4.1920) identified three types of authority preval nal arity nvotves te right to rule seat ithe fereitary or dynastic rule. Secondly, charismathe eed tonal personal characteristics of the political ead et ‘as exemplified by Hitler. Finally, legal-raional a or his ot office held by an individual, where he is authoriy ure, such as, merit-based selection, camara vwnd aot from the personal characteristics ees "Tole. In other words, legal-rational authority is eee ily extends to the individual holding that eae categories existed in pure form. In eae is the outstanding modern state. fi by tradition, sue results from excep! tic personality, tes from the politic .d proce: magni emana through the prescribe tion, rotation oF nomination, vidual holding office which automatical recognized that none of these jeeal-rational authority, which is characteristic of bureaucracy, attribute of the modem state. WEBER'S ANALYSIS OF AUTHORITY | Authority | / (Right to obtain compliance) Traditional Charismatic * Legal-Rati | | (eased onthe (Based on extraordinary (Based on the soa ones shed tradition, personality ofthe leader individual, Sot a | | ce hereditary rule) eg therule of a popular through the prescribed | dictator) procedure, e.g. the rule of | bureaucracy) Hil} DIFFERENT FORMS OF POWER 1m of ‘political power’ iecount a8 therefore, ) Soci is foci aes power eanot be confined t the real they playan Seema iu of power should also be taken into a age + a support- iti i necessary to distinguish between ae eee pas aa te a s of power. Concept of Power ower ‘ 251 poll . as J nat Ball Modern Politics and Government; 1938) + cate ers Key concep in the study of politi Torito ett olitics is the res- ito Mgflicls the distribution of power within a polities ci y/the conflict is to be solved, and whether th : served by all parties.” In order to identif th tial, at the outset, to distinguish betwei 7 “Hf sich PONCE, Legislature, executive ized Oreens et power in a state; they repri ronal ot these organs, ba sanetions "i . The obe- Sea? st OF eutve ea eee nosis an important form of cons regulating the allocation of values in ecient Jaws, policies a es nachinery forthe clletion of texes, They anime onset e a large variety of citizens’ actions, such HCCUCES, Perna, regu ae aes ns’ actions, such as, keeping vehicles and s, running certain businesses, maintaining the quality of products, workii sa ns of the labour, building of houses, ete, There is police to catch hold of fenders, courts 10 {TY the offenders and settle disputes, and prisons to punish the ots. Then military is meant to deal with foreign aggressors. In short, formal organs of political power play on effective role in a givén territory. ‘ (ema}rzas of political power not only take the form of political parties in ower and {n opposition, but also a large number of pressure groups, public opin- i, popular movements, etc. Thus, political power is not the sole prerogative of the formal organs of the state but these organs themselves are responsive to the Spputs’ received from the ‘environment’. This may be illustrated with reference t tie cases: (i) in independent states, public opinion, popular movements and cqganized interests directly influence the decision-making; in democracies, the nling party is bound to seek a fresh mandate from the people at regular intervals; {iyinthe colonies, dependencies and dictatorships, the struggle for independence and strong popular movements are sooner OF Jater able to secure not only substan- tial concessions but even to win their independence; and (i i) in the international sphere, organized groups of nations do exercise their influence on the ‘authorita~ live allocation of values’. The constant pressure exercised by the ‘third world” countries on the super powers to change their economic and foreign policies is a case in point. I community deter- resolution is to be Economic Power Bennncis power is the power emanating from the P pecially the tiajor means of production and d ne x tren ness mag- Bid pines oe ieee big lands nds 98 ies ae tte are abe to influence public decisions regarding Ine ation Ot ed eco ome development in a liberal democracy. In India itself is oe ani ce interests have been able to secure priority of colour TV for oe panning water for the rural poor. a possessors of economic power in a ii ©n politics in several ways. Theit P ution. It is a potent sberal democracy exercise their inf ressure groups are stronger, ™ troduction to Political Theory +more vocal. For instance, in India, the chambers of eo ant e very Strong, the workers anees are not as strong, Peasann ray mers” organizations are the weakest lot. Thy st bing ial of big business houses who take "ye s their interests. Besides thea 252 » Anini industry @ are less strong and con owned by a han papers a no sis medium fo prom f a i ises exten Farge anu ancial help to political parties, «ri® ss, deatinely. intfadates seeking elections. The recipients of susp n°" °kn, on - . rn + intet a dual game—they pay lip-service to the inte oe eu ny committed to sguarding the intel of their financiers. (1876-1936), 2 German sociologist. In his famous work PoliticalParties: A Sociological Study of the Oligarchical Tendencies of Modem Democracy (911) ~ Mickel propounded his ‘Iron Law of Oligarchy’. He proceeded to demonstrate that every organization—whatever its original aims—is eventually reduced to ‘olgatchy’, that is, the rule of the chosen few. He held that majority of human_ teings are apathetic, indolent and slavish. They are permanently incapable of E-government. So they have to bank upon their leaders for pursuing their social objectives, Trade unions, political parties and other organizations are the vehicles of such leadership. cos!" parliamentary democi Michels points out that any organization may be set up with democratic aims, butas the organization grows in size and compl ‘management is leftto the oessional experts. In due c become indispensable for the nen ‘They use their manipulative skills, including oF Persuation 'playing-upon sentiments of the people in order to perpetuat 1 by virtue of their expertise repla ‘adi . I iy difficult to replace them at periodical 1S ction. In jginal aims of the eit undisputed power they set aside the original aims 0! troduction tO political TheOY . Inte a ites out the possibility of ‘circulation of Mais all hopes of demoeraey in any sogiee so destined to be reduced t 40°" of oligarchy point out that t lag ons, Members of some organ is ‘ir igarchy’ “This ‘iron law of oligaety envist ¢ Pareto cal ad by Pareto and Mos i ma All governmen organization. 1 forms of £ ment of Michel’s iron law ever, critics chy. However, cH 1 i f ied to all 0} ‘be uniformly 2p? ions. ie oa J be more vigilant, vocal and assertive than those of others. Again, soy, ona nature could be more democratic than others. For exany ; Mle, as to their members than trade unions, le In organizations by thelt a warning 10 those who sincer sincerely potitial parties may OFF H any case, Michel's observation believe in demoer ization of inst ‘offer more option could serve jutions. —_ OLIGARCHY fa small group of the chosen few makes all deg st. This group is also called oligarchy, i. | \ form of organization in whicl [ sons. largely in its own interes exponents was applied by some subse, ‘Max Weber)(1864-1920), a German e to reject the prevalent definition FF ment by the people’. He sought to redefine democracy as ‘a | leadership’. In his essay on ‘Socialism’ (1918) Weber hae relative independence of political power. He argued to be established through a socialist revolution, it was ship of officials rather than the dictatorship of pro- retariat as envisaged by Marxist theory. Weber asserted that the inequality of politcal power isin no way diminished or eliminated by the abolition of classes. Inother words, even in the so-called ‘classless society’ all power was bound to be concentrated in the hands of the few. A democratic form of government was pret hip. This erable because it provided for an open competition for political | Inodel of democracy was adopted and further developed by ‘Joseph (1883-1950), an American economist and social thinker. in .C. Wright Mils (1916-62), an American sociologist, presented a new version fee theory in i a work, The Power Elite (1956). He preferred the term ‘power elite’-to-‘ruling class’. While Marxian concept of ‘ruli ” impli tn cconomic is woul exes all poital power eth Mi oe oat ce power elite” implied a combination of several groups who exercised all me a i by vine a their high status in all important spheres of social life. It signi- Mae cS “ oft Peon in modern American society. ey aetna sas enn,

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