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On Power: An Article Critique

This research critiques the article "On Power" by Robert Bierstedt (1974). The author's position on the concept of power is described, and the author's position is assessed in relation to four sociological paradigmsùsocial order, social conflict, social meaning, and social exchange.

Bierstedt (1974) perceived power as both sociological and a moral problem. As such, he considered the roots of power to lie in the social community, as opposed to residing in any specific individual or institution. Bierstedt (1974) also recognized the existence of several manifestations of social powerùpolitical, economic, financial, industrial, and military power. He concluded that power is rarely absent in any situation involving social interaction.

In this article, Bierstedt (1974) considered power in four different contextsùas prestige, as influence, as dominance, and as force and authority. With respect to prestige, Bierstedt (1974) concluded that power and prestige are not synonymous, but are, in fact, separate and independent variables, each of which may exist in the absence of the other.

Bierstedt (1974) also drew distinctions between power and influence. While he characterized influence as persuasive, he characterized power as coercive. Again, as Bierstedt (1974) concluded with respect to power and prestige, he concluded that power and influence are separate an independent variables each of which may exist in the absence of the other.

Similarly, Bierstedt (1974) distinguished between power and dominance. He noted that power, which may have a locus in both individuals and groups, is sociological in character, while dominance, which may have a locus only in individuals, is psychological in character. Within this context, Bierstedt (1974) stated that

Power is a function and resource of the organization and opposition of associations, of the arrangement and juxtaposition of groups, including classes, and of the structure of s...

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On Power: An Article Critique. (1969, December 31). In LotsofEssays.com. Retrieved 15:32, March 28, 2024, from https://www.lotsofessays.com/viewpaper/1707099.html