Scribd
Upload
53 views5 pages

POWER

The document discusses the concepts of power, authority, and legitimacy in political organizations, emphasizing that power is essential for achieving objectives and influencing behavior. It defines power as the capacity to impose one's will on others, with various interpretations across different theories and contexts. Additionally, it outlines sources and types of power, highlighting the relational, behavioral, situational, and conditional characteristics of power, as well as the distinction between power and authority.

Uploaded by

anuprabhaandmoon
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF or read online on Scribd
53 views5 pages

POWER

The document discusses the concepts of power, authority, and legitimacy in political organizations, emphasizing that power is essential for achieving objectives and influencing behavior. It defines power as the capacity to impose one's will on others, with various interpretations across different theories and contexts. Additionally, it outlines sources and types of power, highlighting the relational, behavioral, situational, and conditional characteristics of power, as well as the distinction between power and authority.

Uploaded by

anuprabhaandmoon
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF or read online on Scribd
POWER, AUTHORITY AND LEGITIMACY ps the most yital aspects of all organisations in general and political organisation in particular(The concept of power is as old as 1use from the very beginning man has been struggling to acquire \With the rise of the moder nation state, the political theorists of power in politics. In modern times, power holds a significant of politics.(Some political intellectuals declared that In the words of Harold and Margaret Sprout “ some ction, domestic as well Power and authority are pei history of mankind be more and more pow realised the importa place among other conceptions the power is central to politicS) concept of power underlies every description of political intera as international” {In today’s world, no organisation, whatever may its nature be, can do _its duty or achieve objectives without power, In politics, power isthe capacity to make formal decisions which are in some way binding upon others, It is the ability to influence ‘the behavior of others, It may be defined as the capacity to affect other’s behaviour either by the use of negative or positive sanctions. C.J. Fredrich defines it as certain kind of human relationship. The notion of power has multiple meaning, Innatural science, power is understood as ‘force’ or ‘energy’. In social science it appears with diverse interpretations like the capacity or an ability to achieve a desired outcome and an exercise of control by one over another|It is very close to different themes like control, influence, authority, force, might, persuasion, coercion, domination ete, It is the ability or capacity to get other people to do with one’s wishes, with or without their consent, that is whether they like ‘itor not}It is the ability of a person to get his desire enforces on others and if others disagree, then they have to face dire consequences. In fact| power is the ability of an Individual to gain control, influence, and even dominance Over events, ve and people in ways of desire) It is connected with superior quality or capability(It is very common that the power is better described as a special kind of influence} If X gets Y to something X wants but which Would not have chosen to do, power is being exercised. In politics, power is the ability to influence the behaviour of others in a manner not of icir choosing} This implies that having power over the people. Power may be associated with the ability to punish or reward, bringing it close to the force or manipulation, ) DEFINITIONS OF POWER Power is a psycho-political henomenon. It is the capacity to change the behaviour of other persons and to Impose its will over others eyen against their wishes. Itis visible through influence. ? Robert A. Dahl is of the view that “power is defined as a special case of influence involving severe losses for non-compliance”, He calls power is a type of 340 © Defining Political Science: Theory & Analysis conship in respect of eapacity and control. For example; there are two men A sses the capability to control ‘B’ then it will be assumed that A ves a successful attempt to do something, reli and B. If ‘A’ pos has the power. Therefore{po' tonio is of the view that “Power refers to a capacity or ability to control others and control the decision making process”. © Bertrand Russel defines power as the capacity of influencing the actions of others. Itis the ability ofa person to fulfill his desires or to achieve his objectives. Ceording to Max Weber, power is “the possibility of imposing one’s will upon the behaviour of other persons” \2 AT Tawny defines “power is the capacity ofan individual or group of individuals to modify the conduct of others in the manner which he desires. © 11.V.Wiseman declares power as the ability to get one’s wishes carried out despite opposition féphen L.Wasby observed “ power is generally thought to involve bringing about of an action by someone against the will or desire of another. © Harold Laswell says power denotes the ability of a person to fulfill his desires to achieve his objectives. It is associated with influence. © TH.Green believes that power is simply the extent of capability to control others so that they will do what they are wanted to do. © Herbert Simon considers power as an asymmetrical relation between the behaviour of two persons. faclver has rightly observed that power means capacity to centralize, regulate, or direct the behavior of persons. the words of Allan R. Ball, “Political power is the capacity to affect the behaviour by the threat of some form of sanctions”. © According to George Schwarzenberger, power is the capacity to impose ones will on another by reliance on effective sanction incase of non-compliance. Letswell and Kaplan define power is a special case of the exercise of influence. It is the process of affecting the policies of others with the help of severe deprivations for non-conformity with the policies intended. © Amitai Etzioni is of the view that power is “ the capacity to overcome all the resistance to introduce changes in the face of opposition. In other words, power is the ability to get thing done, to make others do what we want, even if they do ant to do it”. \ ptine writes political Power grows out of the barrel of a gun, But in day- to-day life power occurs from the tip of the pen and from the wealth ofa man. ® Mahatma Gandhi prefers to substitute the force of gun and bomb with the power of love and truth emanating from the will of the people. Power, Authority & Legitimacy @ 341 a person may be said to Edward Shills define that and Edward Shills define peigacs erbert Goldhmer t ei hat he influence the behavior of others in ac have power to the extent t with his own intensions « According to Hoogerwerf, Power is the possibility to influence ofothers in accordance with the actors own purposes. the behavior off 1 Morgentau describes that by power we mean the power of man over the W jrinds and actions of others in social contract with one another.

You might also like