Power

Question 1

What is power?

Answer 1

• Central concept of policy studies
• Ability to achieve an outcome - the power to.
• Describing a conflict or competition - power over.
• Resulting from consensus or links to others – power with • Essentially contested concept, multiple definitions

Question 2

Stephen Lukes

Answer 2

3 dimensions of power

Question 3

First dimension of power

Answer 3

• Focuses on decision-making
• Focuses on issues which are on the agenda
• Look at the results/outcomes when there is disagreement
• Asks “who prevails?” Assumes simple identification of winners and losers of policy disputes
“A’s capacity for acting in such a manner as to control B’s responses”
- Robert Dahl
• Describes a successful attempt by A to get B to do something s/he would not otherwise choose to do.


Question 4

Second dimension of power

Answer 4

• Emphasises importance of Non-decision making
• Focuses on issues on decision making and on agenda setting
• considers potential issues that could be on the agenda - Asks “who sets the agenda?”
“to the extent that a person or group - consciously or unconsciously - creates or reinforces barriers to the public airing of policy conflicts, that person or group has power”
(Bachrach and Baratz)
• Recognises that power can exist “outside the range of observable political phenomena” (Crenson)

Question 5

Third dimension of power

Answer 5

• Focuses on how we think, and the terms of the debate themselves.
• The ideas and values behind all social action
• Dominantdiscourseonthewaysissuesareconsidered
• Allows analysis of why some things are political issues to begin with, and others
are not.
“A may exercise power over B by getting him to do what he does not want to do, but he also exercises power over him by influencing, shapingordetermininghisverywants” (Lukes)
• Focuses attention on controlling desires
• Emphasises control of information (e.g. Media, education)
• Consideration of construction of discourse and language over an issue

Question 6

Where does Power Come from?

Answer 6

Bourdieu’s typology of “capitals”
- describes assets that generate power
Economic – wealth, material resources
Cultural – knowledge, skills, educational credentials Social – networks, relationships
Symbolic – legitimate right to hold power

Question 7

How is Power Distributed?

Answer 7

• Competing power models emphasise significance of different actors:
• Pluralism: claims power is distributed across society
• Elitism: claims power is concentrated within society
• Marxism: highlights role of economic interests and class conflict • Corporatism: highlighted power of organized interests
• Professionalism: focuses on the power of professionals

Question 8

Pluralism

Answer 8

• Asserts existence of multiple power centres
• Interests are diverse and fragmented
• Endless bargaining between numerous groups; different resources + advantages
• Government is presented as a neutral arbiter

CRITIQUE:
• Pluralism is naïve in description of the policy process
• State may not be neutral at all, but an interest group in a
strong position
• Not all groups may have equal access to political debates
• Existence of privileged groups - economic and bureaucratic, professional (i.e. Elites)