An actor’s capacity to influence, constrain or direct the thinking, judgement or conduct of other individuals or social circles.
- Explanation. Power is a capacity and is not the same as the influence exercised through it. It may exist without being actively employed at a particular moment. An actor’s power rests on one or more power bases, such as property, position, knowledge, prestige, rights, numbers or other resources. By employing that power, the actor may exert influence on the thinking, judgement or conduct of individuals or social circles. The actual change or effect produced in others is distinguished as influence.
Occurs in Propositions
- Proposition 029 – Institutions strengthen power bases
- Proposition 030 – Actors exercise institutional power
- Proposition 033 – Institutional operation depends on conduct
- Proposition 035 – Support base as power base
- Proposition 037 – Bases of elite position
- Proposition 040 – Limits on elite action
- Proposition 081 – Movement between change classes
- Proposition 092 – The state as social circle
- Proposition 097 – Governing elite and general interest
- Proposition 099 – Common mechanisms of social change
Last updated: 3 October 2026