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This weekThis week
1.1. Method: How to do readings & How Method: How to do readings & How to take class notesto take class notes
2.2. Power and its formsPower and its forms
3.3. Authority and legitimacyAuthority and legitimacy
Power is a social relationPower is a social relation
It involves at least two actors, It involves at least two actors, AA and and BB, who , who are in a relationshipare in a relationship
It can beIt can be equally distributedequally distributed unequally distributedunequally distributed
Actors may possess Actors may possess
different forms of powerdifferent forms of power Actors can be Actors can be individualsindividuals
oror groupsgroups
Two basic definitions of powerTwo basic definitions of power
The capacity of The capacity of actor Aactor A to to make make actor Bactor B do what do what actor Bactor B would not otherwise dowould not otherwise do
A better definition: the capacity A better definition: the capacity to affect the outcome of a to affect the outcome of a social interactionsocial interaction
A third, totally different, kind of power!A third, totally different, kind of power!
Forms of powerForms of power
PowerPower
CoercionCoercion(force)(force)
InfluenceInfluence
PersuasionPersuasion ManipulationManipulation
““Hard” power Hard” power threat to use forcethreat to use force actual use of forceactual use of force
The use of negative sanctionsThe use of negative sanctions Pain or punishment inflicted Pain or punishment inflicted
by by actor Aactor A, who possesses power, who possesses power ... to ... to actor Bactor B, who has less power, who has less power
CoercionCoercion
Influence: general remarksInfluence: general remarks
No threat or use of forceNo threat or use of force
Most common form of powerMost common form of power political speechespolitical speeches journalism, media & advertisingjournalism, media & advertising interpersonal relationsinterpersonal relations classroomsclassrooms
Most effective form of powerMost effective form of power
Esp. important when coercion is not possibleEsp. important when coercion is not possible
Influence 1: PersuasionInfluence 1: Persuasion Actor AActor A is sincere is sincere The “force of the better argument”The “force of the better argument”
explanationsexplanations examples/illustrationsexamples/illustrations justificationsjustifications
Some obstaclesSome obstacles access to knowledge to make a caseaccess to knowledge to make a case access to the audienceaccess to the audience capacity of the audience to understandcapacity of the audience to understand
““Eat your broccoli; Eat your broccoli; it’s good for you!”it’s good for you!”
Influence 2: ManipulationInfluence 2: Manipulation
Actor AActor A conceals true intentions conceals true intentions lying lying real reasons not givenreal reasons not given
Lack of informed consent by Lack of informed consent by actor B actor B
Some ambiguous situationsSome ambiguous situations public relations (industry)public relations (industry) spinspin partial truths (selective truths)partial truths (selective truths) manipulation for the good of othersmanipulation for the good of others
Do intentions matter?Do intentions matter?
Yes: intended effect(s)Yes: intended effect(s) Actor AActor A wants something wants something
from from actor Bactor B and thus and thus usesuses power power
consciously to effect a consciously to effect a change in the behaviour change in the behaviour of of actor B actor B
No: unintended effect(s)No: unintended effect(s) Actor AActor A’s presence causes ’s presence causes
a change in the behaviour a change in the behaviour of of actor Bactor B
thereforetherefore actor Aactor A has has powerpower
even if even if actor Aactor A has no has no wish to influence wish to influence actor B actor B
Some relevant factorsSome relevant factors– the history of the social relationthe history of the social relation– the tendency of some people inside some the tendency of some people inside some
groups, etc. to dominate others groups, etc. to dominate others
Latent power vs. manifest powerLatent power vs. manifest power
HavingHaving power vs. power vs. exercising exercising powerpower
Does Does actor Bactor B expect expect actor Aactor A to use his/her to use his/her power?power?
Does Does actor Bactor B therefore behave differently therefore behave differently because of the expectation?because of the expectation?
Latent powerLatent powerHaving the capacityHaving the capacityto exercise it but not doing it.to exercise it but not doing it.Perhaps not even thinking Perhaps not even thinking about it.about it.
Manifest powerManifest powerUsing it or expressing Using it or expressing the intention to use it.the intention to use it.
Structural powerStructural power
The power of the actors to shape the social The power of the actors to shape the social environmentenvironment
The capacity to set the agendaThe capacity to set the agenda
The capacity to shape the choices and The capacity to shape the choices and opportunities of othersopportunities of others
The capacity to determine the rules of the gameThe capacity to determine the rules of the game
“Living next to the United States is a little like sleeping with an elephant. You always wonder if they will roll over on you.”--Pierre Elliott Trudeau
Power vs. empowermentPower vs. empowerment
domination vs. collaborationdomination vs. collaboration
Power Power overover someone someone• Vertical (hierarchical, Vertical (hierarchical,
top-down) relationtop-down) relation• ControlControl
Power Power toto achieve something achieve something• Horizontal, collective, and Horizontal, collective, and
cooperative effortcooperative effort• Mutual enablingMutual enabling
““Ipsa scientia potestas est”Ipsa scientia potestas est”
Francis Bacon, 1561-1626
... or ... or a source ofa source of power power Acquiring the knowledgeAcquiring the knowledge
to name objects (define things)…to name objects (define things)… or persuade…or persuade… or manipulate…or manipulate… or coerceor coerce
Or work together to achieve a goal…Or work together to achieve a goal… Or adapt…Or adapt… Or preventOr prevent
Francis Bacon, Francis Bacon, Meditationes Sacrae Meditationes Sacrae (1597)(1597)
Explaining obedience & conformityExplaining obedience & conformity
Most people obey commands most of the Most people obey commands most of the timetime
Most people conform to expectations & Most people conform to expectations & prevailing ideasprevailing ideas
They grant authority & legitimacy to rulers They grant authority & legitimacy to rulers (and others)(and others)
Authority & legitimacyAuthority & legitimacy
Authority: person, group or institution that exercises power
Legitimacy: recognition that it is proper for a person, group or institution to rule. Appropriateness of obedience to them
Legitimate authority: person, group or institution whose rule & opinions we accept
Source of legitimate authority 1:Source of legitimate authority 1:TraditionTradition
A movie about tradition A movie about tradition & challenges to it & challenges to it
Some traditional authoritiesSome traditional authorities•EldersElders•Fathers/menFathers/men•Kings/queensKings/queens•Mothers/womenMothers/women•ParentsParents•Religious leadersReligious leaders•Teachers/professorsTeachers/professors•The wealthyThe wealthy
Institutions & ways of acting
Origins not always known
“It’s always been this way”
Sceptical of change
Stability of system: rules of succession
Source of legitimate authority Source of legitimate authority 2:2:CharismaCharisma Always a person Perception of unique qualities
supernatural engaging personality unique competence
Can be cultivated & scripted Unstable: falls out of favour or no
replacement after death
Some rational-legal authoritiesSome rational-legal authorities•Democratically-elected rulersDemocratically-elected rulers•Employees in bureaucratic Employees in bureaucratic organizationsorganizations•Experts of all kindsExperts of all kinds
Source of legitimate authority 3:Source of legitimate authority 3:rationality & legalityrationality & legality Authority based on rules & procedures Based rationality
means-ends logic evidence-based decisions
Obedience to rules, not persons leaders constrained by rules chosen by process
Stability of system: rules & procedures are clean & known
Milgram’s Behavioural Study of Milgram’s Behavioural Study of Obedience (1961-1963)Obedience (1961-1963) Research questions
how could Germans support Adolf Hitler? how many people will act violently when required
to do so? how far will people go?
Predictions of US psychologists: only 1% Original experiment (at Yale University) Repeat experiment (in 2009 in UK)
Stanford Prison Experiment (1971)Stanford Prison Experiment (1971)
Research question how do people act when put in specific
circumstances? can “normal”/“regular”/“good” people do evil things can the power of the situation transform people?
Participants chosen were “normal” Participants got caught up in the experiment
prisoners broke down psychologically guards ever more cruel
In conclusionIn conclusion
Those who wield Those who wield powerpower according to one of according to one of these models are these models are legitimate authoritieslegitimate authorities
Most people obey authorities even to the Most people obey authorities even to the point of doing moral wrongspoint of doing moral wrongs
Next week…Next week…Political ideologiesPolitical ideologies– values desirable in societyvalues desirable in society– conceptions of the good lifeconceptions of the good life– blueprint for organizing social lifeblueprint for organizing social life