Power accompanies the whole of human history and is an invariable element of any social system. Today, there are various interpretations of power as a social phenomenon.
Instruction manual
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Most classical theories view power as the ability and ability to exercise one's own will. With the help of power, one can determine the activities and behavior of people. There are various types of power - social, economic, patriarchal. But a special place belongs to political power, as it is distinguished by supremacy and the obligation to execute power decisions.
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Power as a social phenomenon consists of two elements - the source and the subject. Sources of power can be very different. Among them emit authority, power or law. Power is always subjective. Moreover, it acts as a two-sided element, suggesting the dominance of the ruler over the object. The subject of power can be individuals or social groups, institutions, organizations or the state. They affect the behavior of other people, groups, classes (objects of power) through orders, submission, punishment or rationing. There is no power without subjection to an object.
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Power performs a number of socially significant functions. This is the integration of society, regulation and stabilization of life, as well as motivation. The authorities should strive for social progress, as well as contribute to the improvement of society. To maintain law and order, to counter crisis phenomena and conflicts, the government can exercise its repressive functions.
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The phenomenon of power is that, on the one hand, power gives the ability to satisfy their ambitions through the use of other people for their own purposes (this is expressed in the division of society into masters and subordinates), and on the other, power is a way of social integration and streamlining the life of society.
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The scientific literature presents a variety of interpretations of the definition of power, which focus on various aspects of this phenomenon. The most widespread teleological, behavioral, systemic, functional and psychological approaches.
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Teleological theories interpret power as a way to achieve their own goals. They extend power not only to relations between people and social groups, but also to human interaction with nature. In the latter case, it speaks of human power over nature.
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Behavioral (or behavioral) theories interpret power as a special type of behavior. Within its framework, some people dominate, while others obey. Proponents of this approach believe that the source of power is the personal motivation of people to rule, because this allows a person to acquire wealth, a certain social status, security, etc.
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Psychological theories try to understand the subjective motivation for the desire for power. According to supporters of psychoanalysis, it is due to the sublimation of suppressed libido, the desire to compensate for spiritual or physical inferiority. The emergence of dictatorial totalitarian regimes, according to psychological theory, is associated with the desire of leaders to compensate for injuries sustained in childhood.
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Proponents of a systematic approach associate the emergence of power with the need to ensure social communication to achieve common goals. Power, in their opinion, allows integrating society and regulating conflicts between different groups.
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Functional theory considers power as a way of self-organization of society. Her supporters believe that without her a normal human being is impossible. In their opinion, the social structure itself dictates the appropriateness of the separation of functions of management and submission.
