NATURE, FORMS,

AND CONSEQUENCE
OF POWER
 POWER

• Generally defined as the ability of a person to carry

out his or her will.
• Power in the natural science can be easily
established through a single equation, which
signifies the quantifiable nature of physical power.
 NATURE OF POWER

Dahl (1950) defined power in society as the ability of

person/institution A to make person/ institution B do
something on his/her its own would not do. From the
said definition, power in the society spans a broad
spectrum of meaning that includes force, authority,
influence, and most of the time, coercion.
 WHAT IS POWER IN POLITICS???

• In politics the concept of power is closely related to the

state, government, governance and citizenship.
POWER IS CLOSELY TIED TO:
• Sovereignty - which is the power of the government to
perform its functions and conduct its affairs without
interference from outside forces.
• Authority – the right to exercise power in society
• Legitimacy – the acceptance or recognition of the right to
exercise power.
TAXONOMY OF POWER
Four major types:
1. Compulsory Power
2. Institutional Power
3. Structural Power
4. Productive Power
1. Compulsory power – the direct control of one actor of
the conditions and actions of another.
2. Institutional power – the indirect ways in which an actor
affects another. An example is the use of rules or the law
to impose order.
3. Structural power – basically looks at the position and the roles of
various actors in relation to each other. Example are coach to
player, boss to worker, or captain to crew relationships wherein the
position of each player towards another provide them roles and
responsibilities that they play even without one coercing the other.
4. Productive power – similar to structural power that looks
into the relative position of the actors, the social production
of their roles, and how the roles affect’s the actor perception
and actions. However, productive power focuses not on the
direct structures provided and accepted by each actor, but on
the discourse between the actors in which power is
negotiated.
FIVE BASES OF POWER
• Reward power: Promising or granting rewards.
• Coercive power: Threats or actual punishment.
• Legitimate power: Based on position or formal authority.
• Expert power: Sharing of knowledge or information.
• Referent power: Power of one’s personality (charisma).
 CONSEQUENCE OF POWER

The extent of the consequence of power is dependent upon the different

ways, degree, and the aims by which power is expressed in the society. For
instance, political power in a state is exercised by the government . Through
this power, the government is able to create and enact laws that promote
peace and order in society and influence various processes such as those
affecting economy for the benefit of its constituents as well.
• Compliance refers to the readiness or act of agreeing to do
something.
• The two types of power most likely to cause compliance are
legitimate or position power and reward power.
1.Compliance with the order may occur if it is perceived to be
within the leader’s scope of authority.
2.Compliance is most likely to happen if the reward is something
valued by the target person.
• Commitment is an even more desirable outcome because
of the trust and emotional pledge that it causes. It is
perceived as loyalty or a sense of dedication or devotion.
Commitment is most likely to be the consequence when the
powers used are referent and expert.
• Resistance means to refuse or to oppose. It is the most likely
outcome when coercive power is used in a hostile or
manipulative way. It is best to use coercion power in
preventing behavior that is harmful to the society and well-
being of the people such as illegal and violent activities.
(Heywood 2007)
• Abuse of Authority – refers to the use of authorized power for
illegal acts or stepping beyond the bounds of authorized action
• Abuse of discretion – the willful disregard for the rules of
proper procedure.
• Abuse of Power – pertains to misconduct in office, where an
official performs unlawful actions while in office.
 In studying politics, we must be aware and accept the
fact that power, as a central concept, is dynamic and has
different forms, depending on who is imposing power,
and how the power is expressed.
QUIZ
 IDENTIFICATION

1. The ability of a person to carry out his or her will.

2. The right to exercise power in society.
3. The acceptance or recognition of the right to
exercise power.
TRUE OR FALSE
4. Power includes force, authority, influence, and most of the
time, coercion.
5. The concept of power is closely related to the state,
government, governance and citizenship
6. Power is dynamic and has different forms, depending on who
is imposing power, and how the power is expressed
7. Commitment is most likely to be the consequence when the
power used is coercive.
8. Legitimate power is most likely to cause compliance.
9. Resistance likely is the outcome when reward power is used.
IDENTIFY AS TO WHAT TYPE OF POWER:
(Coercive, Reward, Expert, Referent, Legitimate)

10.Your mother asks you to buy flour in the bakery.

11.The stage director threatened to kick out the lead actor
out of the play if he commits another mistake.
12. Rizie completed the puzzle in ten minutes.
IDENTIFY AS TO WHAT TYPE OF
POWER:
(Coercive, Reward, Expert, Referent, Legitimate)

13.The teacher will give five points to those who can submit their
projects on time.
14. Amia is admired and respected by his subordinates and seen as a
role model.
15. Ezra was promoted by her manager because of good
performance.