Full Idea
All forms of political organisation have a bias in favour of the exploitation of some kinds of conflict and the suppression of others, because organisation is the mobilisation of bias. Some issues are organised into politics while others are organised out
Gist of Idea
Political organisation brings some conflicts to the fore, and suppresses others
Source
Steven Lukes (Power: a Radical View (2nd ed) [2005], 1.3)
Book Reference
Lukes,Steven: 'Power: a radical view' [Macmillan 2005], p.20
A Reaction
[He cites Schattschneider 1960] This is what Lukes calls the two-dimensional theory of power. The point is that students of power should observe what does not happen, as well as what does.
Related Idea
Idea 22855 One-dimensionsal power is behaviour in observable conflicts of interests [Lukes]