Political Power

In his book, Power and Choice, W. Phillips Shively introduces to students of political science the importance of power within the framework of politics. According to him, "Politics consists of the making of a common decision for a group of people through the use of power"(Shively 9). And that "power" is, "the ability of one person or group to cause another person or group to do what the first wishes, by whatever means"(5). Power, therefore, …

…another into seeing issues its way. Yet no one willingly goes against what is in their best interest, or, if they do, power according to Lukes is still being exercised. It is beneficial for a group, therefore, to exercise power in as subtle a manner as possible. Because this is so, it becomes essential when analyzing questions of power, to look at what is not said, as closely as one looks at what is said.