1. Politics and Power M.A.M.Fowsar Lecturer in Political Science
Department of Political Science
South Eastern University of Sri Lanka

2. Introduction Systematic Study of Politics Scholars / Advisors
Politics – Politikos – Polis – City States
Academic Field called as Political Science
Two traditions of studying politics:
Art or science of government
Art or science of power

3. Politics as the Art / Science of Government
Oldest meaning of the study of politics:
science concerned with the happiness of the citizens of the polis
Statecraft (Arthashastra):
the art & science of managing a state by a ruler
Two early meanings:
the body of practices necessary for a ruler
the body of knowledge for statecraft

4. What is Power? Ability to influence an outcome
Ability to do something
Ability to influence an outcome
Exercise of will
Altering his or her will
Be latent
Made manifest
Power is one’s ability to decide the behaviour of others according to one’s own wishes.

5. Politics as Power
Power over: one has / exercise over another (government has power over society)
Power to: use of power to resist domination (Karl Marx)

6. Politics and Power Levels of Political Power
Interpersonal Level (mother and daughter)
Social Level (social groups)
State Level (sovereign power)
Notion of Sovereign Power:
represent the political will of the entire community
power to make and implement laws
the state has power over each & every ….

7. Characteristics of Power
Limited resource (election)
there is a competition for political power
Inequality (ruling class)
not available to everybody on equal terms.
Domination – counter political power
usually generates counter political power

8. Effects of Political Power
Negative Effects:
compliance
submission
obedience
control
subordination
Positive Effects:
empowerment of powerless

9. Power and Authority Studied by different thinkers: Authority is power:
R.M. MacIver (The Web of Government)
Max Weber (Politics as Vocation)
Authority is power:
but something more than just power
right to command obedience
legitimacy / mandate / office
MacIver given two examples:
school principal
government

10. Max Weber and Legitimate Authority
Authority= Legitimating Domination
justification offered by government officials
Justification use by people
Three types of authority:
Traditional Authority
Charismatic Authority
Legal-rational Authority
Main form of authority in modern capitalist society:
legal-rational

11. Antonio Gramsci: Power as Hegemony
Power and It Dimension
Antonio Gramsci: Power as Hegemony
Prison Notebooks – Hegemony
Class Power:
consent rather than force is the crucial mechanism of obtaining and maintaining class power
Hegemony:
different from domination
domination by force
domination by consent & acceptance
should follow non-repressive strategies
should be able to establish hegemony over society
the establishment of leadership in civil society
Political Society
Civil Society

12. Michel Foucault: Power is Everywhere
Power and It Dimension
Michel Foucault: Power is Everywhere
Non-sovereign power – power that exists outside the state
Source of Power:
state & state apparatus (Liberal & Marxist Theory)
state & state apparatus + outside the state & govt.
Micro Spaces of Power:
Power is defused & dispersed, not concentrated
Power is discreet
Power exists in society
The task of power:
Not repression
Productive

13. Hannah Arendt: Power as Potential for Emancipation
Power and It Dimension
Hannah Arendt: Power as Potential for Emancipation
Power is different from:
Strength: something belonging to the individual
Force: the energy released by social movement
Violence: power does not need violence
Power springs up whenever people get tougher and act in concert
Power exists in the political community (not state)
Source of legitimacy is political community

14. THANK YOU