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Single Idea 23263

[filed under theme 24. Political Theory / C. Ruling a State / 1. Social Power ]

Full Idea

What drives political history is power cliques.

Gist of Idea

Politics is driven by power cliques

Source

A.C. Grayling (The Good State [2020], Conc)

Book Ref

Grayling,A.C.: 'The Good State' [Oneworld 2021], p.170


A Reaction

A simple ideas which strikes me as accurate. Alternative views are that power is universally distributed (Foucault), or that power resides in a social class (Marx). Grayling's idea strikes me as more accurate. Each class has its cliques.


The 20 ideas from A.C. Grayling

It is legitimate to do harm if it is the unintended side-effect of an effort to achieve a good [Grayling]
War must also have a good chance of success, and be waged with moderation [Grayling]
Russell needed three extra axioms to reduce maths to logic: infinity, choice and reducibility [Grayling]
Two propositions might seem self-evident, but contradict one another [Grayling]
Majority decisions are only acceptable if the minority interests are not vital [Grayling]
Liberty and equality cannot be reconciled [Grayling]
The very concept of democracy entails a need for justice [Grayling]
There should be separate legislative, executive and judicial institutions [Grayling]
A cap on time of service would restrict party control and career ambitions [Grayling]
Experience, sympathy and history are sensible grounds for laying claim to rights [Grayling]
Politics is driven by power cliques [Grayling]
Democracies should require a supermajority for major questions [Grayling]
It is essential for democracy that voting is free and well informed [Grayling]
In an honour code shame is the supreme punishment, and revenge is a duty [Grayling]
In Greek mythology only heroes can go to heaven [Grayling]
Religion gives answers, comforts, creates social order, and panders to superstition [Grayling]
To make an afterlife appealing, this life has to be denigrated [Grayling]
Lucretius was rediscovered in 1417 [Grayling]
If suicide is lawful, but assisting suicide is unlawful, powerless people are denied their rights [Grayling]
The argument from analogy is not a strong inference, since the other being might be an actor or a robot [Grayling]