The Problem of Power

Power is the substance of politics. As Harold Lasswell has emphasized, "When we speak of the science of politics, we mean the science of power." Power is the ability to control the actions of men, to influence their behavior so that one may make and enforce decisions; it may be exerted through the threat of physical violence, by the ability to grant or withhold economic opportunity, or by control over the sources of information.This article can also be found at the Monthly Review website, where most recent articles are published in full.Click here to purchase a PDF version of this article at the Monthly Review website

Control (management) · Economics · Management · Political economy · Political science · Politics · Power (physics) · Sociology · History · Law · Political Philosophy and Ethics