Political Science: Political Power & Political Conflict

Political Power – capacity to influence behavior of others


Components:
Pertains to ability to make decisions (policies) for or influence the behavior of the society as whole

those decisions are binding on all members of society, even those who do not agree with the decisions/ policies

these decisions can be enforced i.e. citizens can be compelled to accept them.
Example: power to raise taxes for every citizen, who are bound to accept them and must pay them or face fines/prison. The poorest members of society have to choose between feeding their families or paying taxes


Political Conflict – involve issues that affect society as whole i.e involve public concerns and interest

Sources:

Social characteristics (ex. race, ethnicity)

conflicts (ex. over wealth, goods, values, services)

Over power (ex. access to power, limits of power, distribution of power, uses and abuses of power)