2024-02-10
faces of power debate is one of the most famous classical debates that revolves around how to define and measure power. The debate is initiated by Robart Dahl through his work who Governs, a study of power and politics in new Hevan Connecticut. Dahl defined powers as the ability to influence decision and outcomes in a given domain. He argues that power can be observed by comparing the preference and actions of different actors.
However, Dahl's view was challenged by Peter Bachrach and Morton Baratz, who argued that power is the ability to control the agenda and exclude certain issues from being discussed or decided. They called power as the ability to prevent some issues from arising.
Debate is further excluded by Steven Lucks, who introduce the concept of third faces of power. Lucks defined power as the ability to change someone preferences and beliefs, event against of their own interests. Power is not only exercised by influencing or prevention decision, but also by prevention someone from having certain desires or grievances. He called it most effective from of power, as it operated by manipulating the consciousness of powerless.