Turning the Tide Taster SheetPOWER |
![]() PEOPLE in STRONG communities taking effective ACTION |
Power can be defined as the ability to have an impact on the
world. In our society power is usually interpreted as 'power
over' - the ability some people and groups have to make other
people do things they would not otherwise do. However power is
not an inert thing which some people just have; it exists in
relationships. The power of some depends on the obedience of
others, which leads to the question of why people obey, why they
actively or passively keep systems going with which they may not
actually agree.
For example: power in a school
In a school everyone involved with it has some power to make an
impact on the school's functioning and the people in it. They can
do this because they all possess various advantages, or sources
of power.
Who | Sources |
---|---|
The Head | Social tradition, controls money, gives rewards and punishments, the law, has information, interface with the outside world |
Teachers | Length of experience, knowledge, socially recognised position, the law, (sometimes) charisma |
Children | Numbers, nuisance value, they are the raison d'etre for the school's existence |
Prefects | Position in the system |
Governors | Can hire and fire, vested authority, control of budget, can expel |
Older classes | Size and strength |
The caretaker | The key, controls the environment, knowing how things work, (vis a vis the children) is a grown up |
The school secretary | Controls information and is a channel of communication |
Bullies | Size, cunning, intellect, physical strength |
Parents | Can raise money, can remove children (the law), cooperation, can become Governors |
Secretary of State | The law, inspection, ultimately controls resources, civil service apparatus |
The sources of power are the reasons why some people obey others, and can be summarised as:
There is also charisma, which may give power to someone who otherwise does not have it, or strengthen the power of someone who has other sources. A very important source of power is the ability to define reality, to be able to say what the world is like and what people are like.
Active nonviolence can enable apparently powerless groups to find power together in order to alter oppressive structures and relationships.