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Single Idea 21133

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

Full Idea

Is it not the supreme exercise of power to get another or others to have the desires you want them to have - that is, to secure their compliance by controlling their thoughts and desires?

Gist of Idea

Supreme power is getting people to have thoughts and desires chosen by you

Source

Steven Lukes (Power: a Radical View (2nd ed) [2005], p.27), quoted by Andrew Shorten - Contemporary Political Theory 06

Book Ref

Shorten,Andrew: 'Contemporary Political Theory' [Palgrave 2016], p.152

A Reaction

This seems to be beyond dispute. When the operation is successful, those under your power not only do not need to be intimidated, but they don't even need to be guided. But if two people are in perfect harmony, which one has the power?

The 15 ideas from 'Power: a Radical View (2nd ed)'

22854 Power is a capacity, which may never need to be exercised [Lukes]
22850 Hidden powers are the most effective [Lukes]
22852 The pluralist view says that power is restrained by group rivalry [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]
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]
22860 The evidence for the exertion of power need not involve a grievance of the powerless [Lukes]
22861 Power is affecting a person in a way contrary to their interests [Lukes]
22862 Liberals take people as they are, and take their preferences to be 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]