power

Question 1

what are the different perspectives on power?

Answer 1

1. power with - working with people
2. power to - ability to do something
3. power over - control over others
4. power within - capacity to have the ability

Question 2

how is power different from policy?

Answer 2

power is a tool to put policy in place, policy is a course of action

Question 3

what are the 3 spaces of power?

Answer 3

1. closed space - decisions made behind closed doors without public opinions
2. invited space - people are invited into space to be involved but only certain people
3. claimed/created spaces - spaces created by people to address common issues that are ignored by the people in power

Question 4

what does it mean by spaces of power and how can you distinguish spaces of power?

Answer 4

spaces of power is the space for participation, opportunities, moments and channels for citizens to act to potentially affect policies and decisions that affect their lives
- boundaries of these spaces are shaped by power relations ; what can be done, who can be involved and what can be discussed

• distinguished by the level of transparency and participants

Question 5

what are levels of power?

Answer 5

1. local
2. national
3. global

Question 6

what is meant by levels of power and how can you distinguish that?

Answer 6

levels of power is basically where decision making happens, so in a state, in a country or in the world

Question 7

what are the 3 forms of power?

Answer 7

1. visible: decision making - clearly making decisions that people have to follow (policies, rules, structure)
2. hidden: setting agenda - only presenting what people in power think people should know, other stuff excluded
3. invisible : preference shaping - influencing people’s thoughts and opinions using various means like media, school teachings, socialising, control of information

Question 8

what is meant by forms of power? how can you distinguish them?

Answer 8

forms of power is the types of power that can be distinguished by the level of visibility displayed in decision making

Question 9

what is the strategy for miller’s first face of power: visible: observed decision making?

Answer 9

• changing the who what and how of policy making so that it is more transparent, democratic and accountable and serves the needs and rights of people rather than just political elites and their peers

Question 10

what is the strategy for miller’s second face of power: hidden; agenda setting?

Answer 10

• new leadership to influence the way politicians’ agenda is shaped and increase the visibility and legitmacy of issues, voice and demand
• empowering advocacy strategies that focus on strengthening organisations and movement of the poor can build the collective power of number

Question 11

what is the strategy for miller’s third face of power invisible: preferance shaping?

Answer 11

• target social and political culture as well as individual conciousness to transform the way people perceive themselves and those around them and how they envision future possibilities and alternatives

Question 12

how does one sustain effective change?

Answer 12

• it can be a challenge to change power relations with all this multiple forms of power because different groups of people advocate for different issues and want different changes
• but it is important that all these are internlinked
• when social movements and participants are able to work effectively across each of the dimensions simultaneously