LESSON 3: NATURE, FORMS AND allows them to influence local development,

CONSEQUENCES OF POWER job creation, and even real estate prices.

 One of the central concepts and issues Expressed

of political science is power. a) Institution (simplest): example in the
 Who wields it? family, when parents tell their children what
 How it is shared, checked or they should do
monopolized? b) Individuals (grandest): example in the
 How can power and its consequences government, when they imposes policies for
be controlled to gain benefits? the welfare of its constituents
-This lesson present the different definitions
and aspect of power in political science. Not TAXONOMY OF POWER WITH FOUR
only will the student be able to recognized MAJOR TYPES:
power but they will also be responsible in a) Compulsory Power: the direst control of
using it to avoid abuse in its usage as well as one actor of the conditions and actions of
to give due respect to others who have another
power over them. b) Institutional Power: the indirect ways in
which an actor affects another. An example
Power is defined as the ability of person A or is the use of rule or the law to impose order
institution A to make person B or institution B c) Structural Power: looks at the position and
do something that person B or institution B the roles of various actors in relation to each
on his/her own, would not do. From the said other wherein the positions of each player
definition, power in society spans a broad toward another provides them roles and
spectrum of meaning that includes force, responsibilities that they play even without
authority, influence, and most of the time one coercing the other. Examples are the
coercion. coach to player, boos to worker, or captain to
crew relationships
Different forms of power: d) Productive Power: social production of
a) Authoritative Power: powers that refers to their roles, how the roles affect the actors’
ability of a person or institution to influence perceptions and actions.
or control others based on recognized
authority or legitimacy. This type of power is Power is central concept in political science
often accepted by those who were governed and sociology, and it can be understood
or influenced because the authority is seen through its nature, forms and consequences.
as legitimate, whether due to laws, rules or
social norms. Example of authoritative power 1. Nature of Power
include a government enforcing laws, Definition: Power is the ability to influence or
teacher managing a classroom, or a manager control the behavior of people, events, or
directing employees resources. It is often associated with
b) Economic Power: the ability to control or authority and the capacity to make decisions
influence economic resources and decisions, that impact others.
which can in turn, affect individuals, groups, Characteristics:
or entire nations. Those with economic power a) Relational: Power exists within
can shape markets, determine the allocation relationships; it is not just something
of resources and influence employment and someone possesses but is exercised over
productions. Example economic powers can others.
be held by the government, corporations, b) Contextual: The context in which power is
and wealthy individuals or institution like exercised (social, political, economic)
banks. Example: a family owned influences its nature and effectiveness.
supermarket in a small town might hold c) Dynamic: Power is not static; it can
economic power because it is the primary change depending on circumstances, actors
source of groceries and employment in the and the environment.
area. The store’s decision on pricing, product
availability impact the local economy. 2) Forms of Power
Contractors, who secures most of the town’s a) Coercive Power
building projects. Their economic power b) Power of Reward
c) Legitimate Power Activity: Can you give one prominent
d) Expert Power person who abused its power that was
e) Referent Power given to him/her? Defend your answer
f) Purchasing Power
Presentation: Form 6 groups and research on
3) Consequences of Power the definition of forms of power and give
a) Positive Consequence examples. Present in class using pictures
-Social Order: Power can maintain order and portraying each type of power.
prevent chaos, ensuring that rules and
norms are followed. Personality check 3: Cite three things that
-Efficient Decision-Making: Power allows for made Mahatma Gandhi notable in person in
quick and effective decisions, particularly in history and politics.
crisis situations.
-Empowerment: Power can be used to
empower others, giving them the ability to POWER: MEANING, DIMENSIONS, TYPES
act and make decisions. AND CONSEQUENCES
b) Negative Consequences:
-Oppression: Power can lead to the Power: Heywood (2007) is the ability to
exploitation or oppression of weaker groups achieve a desired outcome and is sometimes
or individuals. seen as the ‘power to’ do something. He
-Corruption: Those in power may misuse it further explained that in the context of
for personal gain, leading to corruption. politics and governance, power is usually
-Conflict: The struggle for power can result, thought of as a relationship; the ability to
both within and between societies. influence the behavior of others or having
-Inequality: Unequal distribution of power “power over” people and the ability to punish
can lead to social and economic disparities. or reward.

DIMENSIONS OR FACES OF POWER

-According to Aristotle in his Politics, there According to Heywood (2007), the
are situations where power in government is following are various ways how power is
corrupted by the personal and selfish goals exercised by members of society. These are
of individuals. Because of these egoistic called dimensions or faces of power: Power
goals, individuals pursue laws and intervene as decision making, Power as agenda setting
with social services to achieve personal and Power as Though Control.
rather than communal gains.
-This is true throughout History of men POWER AS DECISION-MAKING:
wherein various individuals identified by POWER AS AGENDA SETTING:
Thomas Carlyle (1841) as “Great Men” of POWER AS THOUGHT CONTROL:
history, such as dictators and despots like Pol
Pot and Adolf Hitler who used the power TYPES OR FORMS OF POWER:
vested on them by their respective Reward Power: the target person complies
governments to pursue personal ambitions in order to obtain rewards he or she believes
over the welfare of their people. are controlled by the agent.
Coercive power: the target person
-In studying politics, we must be aware and complies in order to avoid punishment
accept the fact that power, as a central he/she believes are controlled by the agent
concept, is dynamic and has different forms, Legitimate Power: The target person
depending on who is imposing power, and complies because he/she believe the agent
how that power is expressed. has the right to make the request and the
-Understanding power in these dimensions target person has the obligation to comply
helps us analyze how societies are Expert Power: The target person complies
structured, how decisions are made, and how because he or she believes that the agent
social relations are maintained or challenged. has special knowledge about the best way to
do something.
Referent Power: The target person
complies because he or she admires or
identifies with the agent and wants to gain
the agent’s approval.
Charismatic Power: The power possess by
only few individuals in our midst; it is a
characterized by super confidence, typical
physical attractiveness, social adroitness,
amiability, sharpened leadership skills and
heighted charm.