Political power is a goal or means?

What is power? This phenomenon worries not only theorists of political science, but also many others, including politicians and mere mortals. This interest is quite understandable, because with this phenomenon is associated the position that an individual or group occupies in the pyramid of society.

Approaches to understanding

The classical definition says that power is the totality of those methods and methods that allow one to control others. And methods and methods, as a rule, are expressed in three classical forms: law, authority and / or violence. Needless to say, they can all complement and sometimes interchange each other. Brightly demonstrates this process of historical development of the phenomenon.

Thus, according to the political scientist M. Duverger, in its development, power manifested itself in four main forms. The first of these was called anonymous, or sprayed. Its distribution was at the earliest stage of human civilization and, in fact, belonged to all. The second is individualized. It was naturally transformed from anonymous, as evidenced by the formation of the council of elders, then - the leader, after - the monarch. The current stage in the development of power as a social phenomenon is usually called institutionalized. This is a kind of fusion of the first two forms: power theoretically belongs to all, and in fact - to certain institutions of society, for example, to parties. Also today there is a kind of type - supra-state power. This phenomenon is characterized by the fact that the ability to influence the processes occurring in a society formed within the territory of one state is enjoyed by supranational organizations.

Each of the four species had at its disposal a certain set of tools, which determined the types of power, both political and otherwise.

Types of power

The basic division of power, including political, is carried out on the basis of its compliance with legal principles in society and in the country. That is why two types are distinguished: legal and illegal. It should be noted that in this case, legality can not be associated with legitimacy. So, for example, by using the full range of opportunities provided, the party can get power in the state in an absolutely legal way. But at the same time, she does not receive approval from the people, which automatically leads to her illegitimacy. In this regard, it will be appropriate to carry out the above division into a legal, illegal and legitimate one.

The second division of power is carried out on the sphere of influence. So, the main consider state, market, political. Market power is a set of techniques that allow you to take a leading position in the economy. Political - this is an opportunity to influence the opinion of everyone in society. The state is a kind of political, in which influence can be exercised by one or all of the above methods.

The third division is inherent in the main government as a subspecies, but, given the value of this type, it plays an essential role. As a rule, two signs are singled out: on the subject of power and on the way of its realization. In the subject, division is carried out depending on the branches of power and the subject's belonging to them.

But the value for lawyers, sociologists and political scientists still represents a division by the way of realization: democratic power and undemocratic. The first case involves the use of legitimate means of influence - the right, legal coercion and deserved authority. In relation to the second, there can be no question of legitimacy. The most vivid example here is absolute power. This statement is based on the fact that one subject at his own discretion rules the lives of everyone else. However, the latter case is still a rarity, and in the modern world with respect to non-democratic power, a totalitarian, extremist-religious and authoritarian type is characteristic.

Thus, power is still a means of achieving the tasks set, but it does not matter which sphere it covers.