Political Theory and PowerThis book draws attention to certain significant changes in the way in which power has been defined and it also examines some of the critical responses which those changes have evoked. The objective is not to try and evolve a universally acceptable and comprehensive definition of power, and of realted terms like authority and influence. The argument of the book is that, that would be an impossible project since social and political theories themselves constitute an intervention into political discourse of a society and they may implicitly or explicitly embody a political perspective. |
Contents
Chapter 1 Introduction | 1 |
Chapter 2 Power and Rational Choice | 19 |
Chapter 3 Power System and Empirical Theory | 41 |
Chapter 4 Power and Social Structure | 63 |
Chapter 5 Power and Domination | 89 |
from ideology to | 113 |
Chapter 7 Conclusion | 139 |
| 143 | |
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Common terms and phrases
action Althusser Althusser's analysis analyze argued aspects behaviour Cambridge Capital civil society concept of power consensus constituted contemporary critical theory critique culture David Easton decision-making decisions defined Delhi Democracy democratic dimensions of power discourse discussion distorted communication embodied empirical empiricist explanation forms framework function Gabriel Almond groups Habermas's human ideology important India individuals inequality influence instance interactions interests Jurgen Habermas knowledge legitimacy liberal democracy limitations London Marx Marxist theory Michel Foucault modern modes Nicos Poulantzas normative notion objective Partha Chatterjee Philosophy policies political science political system political theory positivist possible power and domination power in society Power/Knowledge problems processes public choice theory public sphere put forward rational choice theories reality relations relationships role scientific situation social formation social science social scientists Sociology structuralist structuralist-Marxist structure and agency structures study of power systems theories Talcott Parsons theoretical theories of power theorists understanding values