SOAN 227 - What is Power?

FDR: SS4 Social Science - Group 4 Distribution
Credits: 3

People use the expression “power” all the time, yet defining this concept is far more difficult than it seems at first sight. What does it mean to have power? How is it accumulated, exercised, and resisted? Using classic and contemporary social theory, as well as documentaries involving case studies, this course offers an overview and discussion of the nature of power. In particular, we will debate two core ideas. First, the relational nature of power. That is, power is not just something people “have”, but a set of structures linking social actors. Second, the relation between visibility and effectiveness of power. In other words, the most insidious forms of domination are the ones least noticeable to those involved in them.