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Full Idea
Poulantzas (1968) defined his concept of power as the capacity of a social class to realise its specific objective interests.
Gist of Idea
Power is the capacity of a social class to realise its interests
Source
Steven Lukes (Power: a Radical View (2nd ed) [2005], 1.8)
Book Ref
Lukes,Steven: 'Power: a radical view' [Macmillan 2005], p.57
A Reaction
Lukes offers this as an account of power in terms of structures, rather than of the actions of individuals. Lukes says that power must include the ability of the agent to act differently. Power must involve responsibility. Power is not fate.
Related Ideas
Idea 22861 Power is affecting a person in a way contrary to their interests [Lukes]
Idea 23142 People are fallible, so liberalism tries to distribute power [Gopnik]
| 22850 | Hidden powers are the most effective [Lukes] |
| 22852 | The pluralist view says that power is restrained by group rivalry [Lukes] |
| 22854 | Power is a capacity, which may never need to be exercised [Lukes] |
| 22851 | In the 1950s they said ideology is finished, and expertise takes over [Lukes] |
| 22853 | Anyone who thinks capitalism can improve their lives is endorsing capitalism [Lukes] |
| 22855 | One-dimensionsal power is behaviour in observable conflicts of interests [Lukes] |
| 22856 | Political organisation brings some conflicts to the fore, and suppresses others [Lukes] |
| 22860 | The evidence for the exertion of power need not involve a grievance of the powerless [Lukes] |
| 22857 | The two-dimensional view of power recognises the importance of controlling the agenda [Lukes] |
| 22859 | Power can be exercised to determine a person's desires [Lukes] |
| 22858 | There is collective action, where a trend is manifest, but is not attributable to individuals [Lukes] |
| 22862 | Liberals take people as they are, and take their preferences to be their interests [Lukes] |
| 22861 | Power is affecting a person in a way contrary to their interests [Lukes] |
| 22863 | Power is the capacity of a social class to realise its interests [Lukes] |
| 21133 | Supreme power is getting people to have thoughts and desires chosen by you [Lukes] |