Module 1: Power & Politics

Politics:

A struggle over scarce resources, competing interests, and who gets what, when, and how.

Majoritarian Democracy:

A model where power rests primarily with the majority of citizens.

Pluralist Democracy:

A model where power is dispersed among many competing groups and organized interests.

Elite Democracy:

A model where power is concentrated among a small group of political, economic, or social elites.

Gaventa's 1st Dimension (Decision-Making Power):

Visible power exercised when key political conflicts are openly debated and decided.

Gaventa's 2nd Dimension (Agenda-Setting Power):

Power used to control which issues are discussed or excluded from public debate.

Gaventa's 3rd Dimension (Ideological Power):

Power that shapes beliefs, norms, and assumptions, influencing what people view as possible or acceptable.

Power:

The ability to get others to do what you want, even if they don't want to.