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2 - Interpretations and Fields of Application

The Multiple Faces of Power

from Part I - The Colours of Power

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  04 January 2024

Alessandro Roncaglia
Alessandro Roncaglia
Affiliation:
Sapienza Università di Roma
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Summary

A brief illustration of past interpretations of power is followed by alternative definitions of power as differential of potential, as barrier to entry, as relative weight. Webers ideal types of power (legal, traditional, charismatic) are combined with the main areas of power (economy, politics, culture) in a scheme for attempting a characterization of different societies and their evolution in time. Cumulative processes and balancing processes in the evolution over time of the distribution of power in society are then considered.

Keywords

definitions of powercumulative processesbalancing processesmotivationtraditioncharismatic powerlegal power
Type
Chapter
Information
Power and Inequality
A Reformist Perspective
 , pp. 11 - 26
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2024

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