Power; Meaning, Definition, Characteristics

meaning of power? / What is power?

In simple words, the meaning of power is applied with strength or force. Sometimes power is also used to mean power or influence.

Robert Dahl and Laswell have used power in the work of 'influence.'

Mergenthau has used power as 'control.'

Hobbes expressed power as a 'general tendency' and wrote, "Power is the unceasing and unending will of man, the end of which is possible with death."

Kautilya has used the word Shakti as 'use of force.'

Power, in common parlance, refers to the influence of an individual by which his supremacy and sovereignty can be accepted in society or politics.

Today all the politics in the world is of power. Man is a thinking animal, but not all human beings have the same type of thoughts. The difference of opinion is a characteristic of human society. Every human tries to bring others in his favor, using power to make this effort successful.

In this regard, Bearstreet said, "Power is the support of the basic order of society. Wherever there is order, there must be the existence of power. Power is behind every organization and maintains every structure. No organization without power." There can be no permanent, and there can be no order without power.

Definition of power

According to Robert Birstead, "Power is the ability of force, not the actual use."

MacIver says, "Power is the ability to control, regulate and direct individuals and behavior."

According to Kaplan, "Power is the ability to accomplish an event by organized action."

According to Morgenthau, "Political power refers to the relationship between the persons holding state power and their relations with the people."

According to Hobbes, "Power is a present means of achieving certain goals in the future."

According to Robert Dahl, "Power is defined as a special form of influence. In this form, the person who receives the power must suffer a lot because of not obeying the command."

Based on the above definitions, it can be said that "the power of a person is the effect he can exert on other persons. Yes, that is his power."

characteristics of power

The characteristics of the power are as follows--

1. Power relation is an indicator concept. In this, the relationship between the ruler and the ruled is found. That is, the ruler must have someone over whom he should rule.

2. Power is a bilateral concept. That is, when they are ruled, then there will be rulers too. In the absence of anyone, the use of power is not possible.

3. Personal status and prestige affect power. Of course, power is circumstantial. For example, suppose a person sitting in a high office administers at a leisurely pace. In that case, that administration remains in disarray, and if someone with a bright personality sits in the same post, he governs well. Both the persons exercise the same type of rights in the same position, yet there is a difference in the results of both powers.

4. The power to reward and punish is found in Shakti. The powerful people can get the orders of the people to be followed because they are in a position to punish and reward.

5. Many powerful people use their power by staying behind the curtain. Capitalists and big religious leaders play an important role in politics while staying away from politics.

Here the question arises about who has the power; Marxists think that the people who have the means of production have the power. However, this power is called economic power. In comparison, the elite class or political elite believe that power is concentrated in the hands of a few specific people. These distinguished people are influential leaders, capitalists, high administrative officials and members of aristocratic families, etc. Political elites say, "The external form of government can be whatever you call a monarchy or a democracy, a fascist government or a communist regime, but political power has always been in the hands of the minorities."

Pluralists believe that political power cannot be concentrated in any one place or community. Anyone can be the holder of power in a democracy.

read this also; State Functions

read this also; Power theory of the origin of the state

read this also; Divine Theory of Origin of the State

read this also; Evolutionary theory/historical theory of the origin of the state

read this also; sovereignty; Meaning, Definition, Characteristics

read this also; Types of Sovereignty

read this also; Power; Meaning, Definition, Characteristics

read this also; Power; Types/Classification, Nature, and Sources