Theories Power And Politics

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  • Created by: lw121x
  • Created on: 12-06-15 17:16
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  • Power SY3
    • Weber
      • 3 types of power
        • Charismatic
        • Traditional authority
        • rational legal
        • however could have 2
      • first sociologist to define power
      • Zero Sum - negative some
      • Politics too run by beureacracracies. Strong gov in own feet
    • How is power exercised (Lukes)
      • Decision making ie. gov
        • based on dahl ie. winning argument
      • agenda management
      • manipulation of wishes
        • castells argues this is the strongest
    • Classical Pluralists
      • based on work of weber
      • anyone can have power voice can be heard
      • represent broad range of interests
      • honest broker
      • agree parsons + weber distribution of power
      • over time there will be a balance between groups
      • DAHL
        • IN US no ruling class balance of power. If one person had power could only succeed in that group.
        • only focused on lukes decision making
      • EVAL:
        • dated trade unions ect not important.
        • Nicholas "Treasure Island" state captured by elite
        • Overloading the Government
      • Countervailing power
    • Elite Pluralists
      • accept in most societies unequal dist wealth + some groups less power
      • saw flaws in classical
      • Wyn Grant
        • PG lost influence ie TUC, Direct action used because they are not listened to
      • acknowledges elite has more power
    • Marxists
      • Karl Marx said power can only be held by 1 person at a time. These "groups" are ruling classes.
      • Stephen Lukes was a Marxist, 3 faces 3rd was manip wish. Marxists focus on this with the 'false consciousness' accepting ideology as their own
      • political power= economic
      • those that own production own society
      • Proletariat get opinions via Labour still exploited
        • Minimum wage
      • those views of hegemony become views of all
      • Instrumental Marxist
        • politicans tool to ruling class
        • Milliband political + economic elites shared ie. cabinet 23 millionaires.
        • "Revolving door"
      • Structuralism Marxists
        • not quite a tool degree independence. Realtive autonomy = LT maintenance 'false class consciousness'
      • EVAL
        • Economic determinism however ie. gay marriage
        • production many run business but hire manager so no control
        • large companies funded by shareholders of the WC
      • Marx Elite
        • elite preserve capitalist interests. Exploitation of WC allow elites/ Abercrobie + ward production = power
        • Milliband cap rule, indirectly, Oxbridge, media ie. labour holiday
        • Polantazas irrelevant who rules ruling class always benefits
    • Elite Theories
      • most important decisions made by the elite (oligarchic)
      • power often economic might include charisma
      • Classical Elite Theory
        • Inevitable + Desirable feature of society
      • Pareto lions and foxes
        • Foxes manipulating democratic
          • Micheals "law oligarchy' better educated. Democracy illusion hide power ie. Russia royal family. Revolutions change nothing disagree marx
      • Mosca ruled inevitable 0 masses not smart/ Superior. For the people but not by the people
      • Eval:
        • too simplistic authoritarianism + democracy?
        • superiority objective
      • Power Elite Theory
        • regrettable feature of society left wing.
          • C R Mills Military, Business, Political leaders
            • interconeccted. Williams British power elite political, professional + financial
    • Functionalists
      • Value consensus is essential. shared culture + socialisation.
      • Variable sum everyone wins. Too much power NK bad.
      • striving for goal materialism.
      • opposes horizontals.
    • Feminist - society inequality unjust balanced towards men.
      • private sphere great inequality. Women have childcare duties, perform 'triple shift'.
    • Gilens 200 survey 1960's now even if 75% public agree 40% change. top 10% = good.
    • Tom Pickety capitalism economy inherited wealth more than earned
      • Richest 1% US 40% popYK richest 1% 60% Walton 40% poorest
    • Post Modernist
      • Lyotard & Baudrillard
        • society moved on from mod period
        • blobalisation reducing power of state, economic changes broken up different clsses diffusal of power, relativism in the way we look at people
        • Baudrillard 'death of politics' old politics to new
        • lost faith 'metanarratives' people don't conform anymore
        • NSM globalised
        • 'New Politics' Direct action etc...
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