1. PR1400 POWER & AUTHORITY

2.  Office Hours Changed:  Thursdays between 1.30 and 2.30pm  + appointments by e-mail:  Didem.Buhari.2008@live.rhul.ac.uk

3. Seminar objectives  Define power and authority a) Robert Dahl’s definition b) Steven Lukes’ definition (3 dimensions) c) Political power ≠ political authority  Who has power in Britain, or in any other political system, and how would we know it?

4. Definition of power by Robert Dahl  “A getting B do something B would otherwise not do” (Dahl, 1961).

5. THE SECOND DIMENSION OF POWER? What is the second dimension of power advanced by Peter Bachrach and Morton Baratz (1963; 1970)? Power operates by creating silences and non- decisions. Look at who set the ‘rules of the game’ and exclude some topics/alternatives from the agenda. If A influences the system and limits the choices of B indirectly, we say that A has ‘agenda- setting’ power.

6. The Third dimension of Power? -Establishing consensus by changing beliefs and principles of the rival party. So, the rival party does not even know that it has become powerless under that system and is not aware that it could protest/resist the system. It rather gives its consensus for the continuation of the system because it believes that it is in its interest too. - This type of power is both diffuse & hidden. It involves manipulation and disempowerment in order to preserve the status-quo.

7. Power in UK  Find political actors who are powerful in the UK. Please explain why they seem powerful.

8. Define authority. How is it different than crude power? Authority is legitimized power. Reasons why an actor might obey a rule: (1) because the actor fears the punishment of rule enforcers, (2) because the actor sees the rule as in its own self-interest, and (3) because the actor feels the rule is legitimate and ought to be obeyed.

9. Should we use Hard or Soft power against secessionism&terrorism?

10. Next week: state