A Clash of Powers
Church and State
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 2292142 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Corey J Colyer (0000-0001-9223-5445, West Virginia University, corresponding author), Rachel E Stein (0000-0003-1221-5490, West Virginia University), Katie E Corcoran (0000-0002-7948-5877, West Virginia University) |
| Year | 2024 |
| Volume | 94 |
| Issue | 1 |
| Pages | 88-104 |
| Publication date | 2024-02-01 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Sociological Inquiry (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 0038-0245 • E-ISSN: 1475-682X |
| Publisher | Wiley (PUBLISHER • GB) |
| DOI | 10.1111/soin.12558 |
| OpenAlex | W4379985920 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 1 |
| References cited | 32 |
Sociologists define power as one party's capacity to influence another's action. Thus, power is a relational property of interpersonal interaction. However, its dynamics embed within institutions such as the church and the state. This paper explores power dynamics using a case study of the conflict between an Old Order Amish church and the civil law of Ohio. The church excommunicated a member for violating community rules. The member countered by suing the church in state court. We trace power within and across these spheres of influence, showing how each party defined the situation according to institutional vectors of power. While one might expect the state to possess greater power in this situation, we demonstrate that ultimately neither party had total power, and both lost to some extent. This case study identifies the importance of viewing power as interactional, dynamic, and contextual
Action (physics · Business · Epistemology · Interpersonal communication · Law and economics · Linguistics · Order (exchange · Political science · Power (physics · Property (philosophy · Social science · Sociology · State (computer science · TRACE (psycholinguistics) · Agriculture and Farm Safety · Computer Science · Contemporary Sociological Theory and Practice · Law · Philosophy · Religion and Society Interactions
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| Unique citing works | 1 |
|---|---|
| Citations per year | 1 |
| Citation span | 2025 - 2025 (1) |
| Citation velocity | recent |
| Highly cited | No |
| Citation types | Neutral: 1 |