Power (Spaces, Levels, Forms) and Framing Flashcards
What is Politics?
“Who gets what, when, and how” – Harold Lasswell.
everything involving humans is political
the most political thing you could ever do is by doing nothing (gives a 100% blank check to the status quo)
Where does politics take place?
Everywhere:
1. Above and Beyond “the State” → Subfield of International Relations
2. “The State” → subfield of Comparative Politics
3. Below and Within “the State” → subfield of Domestic Politics
4. In Our Minds → subfield of Political Theory
What are the 4 Perspectives on Power?
- Power ‘over’: A gets B to do things they otherwise wouldn’t do
- Power ‘to’: The capacity to act
- Power ‘within’: The confidence to act
- Power ‘with’: The ability to act together to accomplish things
What are the three spaces of power?
- Closed
- Invited
- Claimed
What are closed spaces of power?
Decisions are made by a set of actors behind closed doors, without any pretence of broadening boundaries for inclusion.
Can be seen as ‘provided’ spaces where elites make decisions and provide services to ‘the people’, without the need for broader consultation or involvement
E.g: closed-door governmental meetings –> making decisions that are kept out of public knowledge
What are invited spaces of power?
It is the movement from closed spaces to more ‘open’ ones. People are invited to participate by various kinds of authorities, be it the government, supranational agencies, or non-governmental organisations. these spaces may be regularised, that is they are institutionalised ongoing, or more transient, through one-off forms of consultation. increasingly with the rise of approaches to participatory governance, these spaces are seen at every level, from local government, to national policy and even in global policy forums.
e.g:
advisory board –> Invite specific individuals with expertise to provide insights on important decisions
diplomatic negotiations –> the ability to participate is contingent on the invitation of those in power
What are claimed/created spaces?
They are spaces which are claimed by less powerful actors from or against the power holders, or created more autonomously by them
‘Organic Spaces’ which emerge ‘out of sets of common concerns or identifications’ and ‘may come into being as a result of popular mobilisation, such as around identity or issue-based concerns, or may consist of spaces in which like-minded people join together in common pursuits.’
Social Actors reject hegemonic spaces and create spaces for themselves.
These spaces range from ones created by social movements and community associations to those simply involving natural places where people gather to debate, discuss, and resist, outside of the institutionalised policy arenas
E.g: protests
What are the three levels of power?
- Global
- National
- Local
How are the three levels of power interlinked? And what are their challenges?
The levels of power are interconnected. Global decisions (e.g., international treaties, trade policies) often affect national policies, which, in turn, shape the local context (e.g., local governments’ responses to national policies on healthcare or immigration).
Local activism can influence national politics, and national movements can have a global impact (e.g., the spread of a national social justice movement into global consciousness).
the interrelationships of these levels of power with one another suggest that the challenge for action is not only how to build participatory action at differing levels, but how to promote the democratic and accountable vertical links across actors at each level
What are the three forms of power?
- Visible: observable decision-making
- Hidden: setting the political agenda
- Invisible: shaping meaning and what is acceptable
Explain ‘visible’ forms of power
It is the first face of power. This level includes the visible and definable aspects of political power, like the formal rules, structures, authorities, institutions and procedures of decision-making. Strategies that target this level are usually trying to change the ‘who, how, what’ of policymaking so that the policy process is more democratic and accountable, and serves the needs and rights of people and the survival of the planet
Explain ‘hidden’ forms of power
It is the second face of power. Certain powerful people and institutions maintain their influence by controlling who gets to the decision-making table and what gets on the agenda. These dynamics operate on many levels to exclude and devalue the concerns and representation of other less powerful groups.
Empowering advocacy strategies that focus on strengthening organisations and movements of the poor can build the collective power of numbers and new leadership to influence the way the political agenda is shaped and increase the visibility and legitimacy of their issues, voices and demands.
Explain ‘invisible’ forms of power
It is the third face of power. It shapes the psychological and ideological boundaries of participation. Significant problems and issues are not only kept from the decision-making table, but also from the minds and consciousness of the different players involved, even those directly affected by the problem. By influencing how individuals think about their place in the world, this level of power shapes people’s beliefs, sense of self and acceptance of the status quo – even their own superiority or inferiority. Processes of socialisation, culture and ideology perpetuate exclusion and inequality by defining what is normal, acceptable and safe. Change strategies in this area target social and political culture as well as individual consciousness to transform the way people perceive themselves and those around them, and how they envisage future possibilities and alternatives.
it can be exercised through the control of information, mass media, process of socialisation, schools
How do you study Power?
- One must analyze the dominant values, myths and established political procedures and rules of the game
- One must make a careful inquiry into which persons or groups, if any, gain from the existing bias and which, if any, are handicapped by it.
- One must investigate the dynamics of nondecision-making – how status quo-oriented persons and groups influence community values and political institutions.
- One must analyze participation in decision-making of concrete rules.
What is Framing?
It suggests that an issue can be viewed from different perspectives and can be interpreted in relation to various values. Framing is how people form or shift their understanding of an issue by emphasizing certain aspects, leading to different reactions and interpretations.
Framing is a communication technique where certain aspects of reality are selected and made more salient (noticeable) in a message, influencing how people interpret an issue. By emphasizing some elements while downplaying or ignoring others, framing can shape public perception and reaction.
Why is Framing important?
Frames help make complex issues more understandable by providing context and fitting new information into familiar categories. They guide how both journalists and readers select, present, and evaluate information about events.
It influences how people think by changing the way information is being presented. small changes in how an issue or event is described can lead to significant shifts in opinion, making framing a powerful tool in politics
What are the 5 types of frames?
- Diagnostic Framing: Identify a problem – Who or what is to blame?
- Prognostic Framing: Offer a solution
- Motivational Framing: Get people involved
- Counter-Frames: Refute opponents
- Master Frames (MF): broad, overarching themes used by multiple social movements to shape their messages and mobilize support. They provide a general way of interpreting issues that different groups can adapt to their specific causes.
Examples of MF: Rights Frames, Choice Frames, Injustice Frames, Sexual Terrorism Frames, Oppositional Frames, Return to Democracy Frames, Environmental Justice Frames
Why do Frames succeed? hint: 5 reasons
- Frame Resonance (depends on culture): aligns with cultural values, beliefs, and experiences of the target audience
- Frame Credibility: Frame consistency, empirical credibility, Frame articulators and claims-makers (trusted sources)
- Frame Diffusion: frame spreads across different movements, groups, or societies, often through media, activism, or personal networks
- Political Opportunity Structures: the political environment can determine if a frame gains traction or faces resistance
- Cultural Opportunities and constraints: cultural norms, traditions, and dominant ideologies can either facilitate or limit the acceptance and effectiveness of a frame
What are the 5 faces of power?
5 Faces of Power:
1. Decision-Making Power: Direct authority and decisions that affect others.
2. Agenda-Setting Power: The ability to control what is discussed or considered important.
3. Non-Decision-Making Power: Preventing certain issues from being raised or considered.
4. Manipulation Power: Shaping people’s desires, beliefs, or behaviors without their knowledge.
5. Ideological Power: Shaping the deep structures of thought and beliefs to make people accept the status quo as natural.
