Defining Power

What is Power?

Ability to influence or control others

Physical strength and force

Authority and leadership

Wealth and material possessions

Knowledge and information

Charisma and persuasive skills

Social status and recognition

Mental and emotional resilience

Control over oneself and one's emotions

Adaptability and flexibility

Expression of creativity and innovation

Ability to inspire and motivate others

Problemsolving and decisionmaking skills

Access to resources and opportunities

Influence over institutions and policies

Ability to create change and impact society

Selfdiscipline and determination

Ability to communicate effectively

Networking and social connections

Confidence and selfbelief

Ability to overcome adversity and challenges

Empathy and understanding of others

Ability to negotiate and compromise

Time management and prioritization

Ability to learn and acquire new skills

Emotional intelligence and ability to connect with others

Respect and integrity

Wisdom and experience

Ability to inspire trust and build relationships

Resilience and ability to bounce back from failures

Imagination and vision

How do the IB define Power?

Power is defined as the ability to influence or control others .

The IB defines power as the capacity to make decisions or take actions that
have an impact on individuals, groups, or societies .

According to the IB, power can be both formal and informal, with formal power
being derived from positions of authority and informal power arising from
personal attributes or relationships .

The IB considers power to be multidimensional, encompassing various types

such as political power, economic power, social power, and cultural power .

Power, as defined by the IB, is not limited to individuals but can also be
possessed by institutions, organizations, or systems .

The IB recognizes that power can be exercised through both positive and
negative means, promoting cooperation, collaboration, and societal progress,
or leading to oppression, discrimination, and inequalities .

The IB emphasizes the importance of power analysis, highlighting how power

structures and dynamics shape relationships and determine access to
resources and opportunities .

Power, as defined by the IB, is contextual, acknowledging that its meaning

and implications can vary across different cultures, societies, or historical
periods .

The IB champions the idea of shared power, advocating for inclusive

decisionmaking processes and the redistribution of power to empower
marginalized individuals or groups .

The IB promotes critical thinking about power, encouraging students to

question and challenge dominant power structures and narratives, and to
explore alternative models that promote fairness, justice, and sustainability.

How might we distinguish between different types of

power?

1. Physical power: Focus on distinguishing the physical strength of

individuals. This could involve measuring muscle mass, grip strength, or
evaluating performance in physical activities .

2. Political power: Explore ways to differentiate between different political

leaders or parties by assessing their influence, governance style, or their
ability to rally support amongst the masses .

3. Economic power: Look into methods to identify various levels of economic

power, such as wealth, income, and assets. This could involve assessing
financial indicators like net worth, investments, and salary .

4. Intellectual power: Develop ways to determine the intellectual power of

individuals, including assessing their knowledge, expertise, educational
background, and problemsolving skills .

5. Emotional power: Explore methods to measure emotional intelligence,

empathy, and the ability to influence and connect with others on an emotional
level .

6. Social power: Investigate ways to assess an individual's social influence and

network, including metrics such as social media following, connections, and
the ability to mobilize groups or change social norms .

7. Spiritual power: Explore methods to distinguish different levels of spiritual

power, such as evaluating an individual's level of enlightenment, religious
devotion, or ability to inspire others on a spiritual level .

8. Technological power: Look into ways to differentiate between different types

of technological power, such as evaluating an individual's proficiency in
various technologies and their ability to leverage technology for personal or
organizational gain .

9. Cultural power: Investigate methods to identify different forms of cultural

power, including an individual's impact on popular culture, ability to shape
narratives, or influence over social trends .

10. Moral power: Explore ways to assess an individual's moral compass and
ethical decisionmaking, including evaluating their track record in difficult
ethical situations or their commitment to social and environmental justice .