Power is one of the most fundamental concepts in Political Science, influencing governance, leadership, public policy, international relations, and social institutions. It refers to the ability to influence, control, or shape the behaviour of individuals, groups, or nations to achieve desired objectives. From Thomas Hobbes, Max Weber, Robert Dahl, Bertrand Russell, and Steven Lukes to Hannah Arendt, Antonio Gramsci, and Michel Foucault, political thinkers have offered diverse perspectives on the nature, legitimacy, and exercise of power. Understanding these theories is essential for analysing democracy, authority, political institutions, public administration, and global politics.
This article provides a comprehensive overview of Power in Political Science, covering its meaning, definitions, characteristics, components (Force, Influence, and Authority), relationship between power and authority, conventional and non-conventional theories of power, pluralist and elitist theories, Steven Lukes’ three-dimensional view of power, Michel Foucault’s postmodern perspective, and the contributions of major political thinkers. Whether you are preparing for UPSC, State PCS, UGC-NET, Political Science, Public Administration, Sociology, Law, or Judiciary examinations, this guide offers a clear, analytical, and exam-oriented understanding of one of the most important concepts in political theory.
Author: Darshita Neeraj
Senior Researcher,
Mudita Learning and Knowledge Private Limited
Email: info@muditabooks.com
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