Chapter 3 Self-test questions

. Why is the question of power important to students of politics?

Politics is about competing interests and values, and power relates to the ability to influence political decision-makers.

Only body-builders can become political leaders.

It is assumed that power has no bearing on politics so it has not been well studied.

Only the most powerful political leaders have enjoyed lengthy careers.

. What is the difference between power and authority?

There is no difference between power and authority.

Authority requires the consent of those being ruled, while power often has to resort to coercion or violence.

Power always includes authority, but authority does not always involve power.

Power is the more desirable form of authority.

. What kind of authority did Weber regard as the basis for authority in the modern world?

Traditional authority.

Charismatic authority.

Legal-rational authority.

Totalitarian authority.

. Select a situation in which the exercise of power over someone might be desirable.

The relationship between a parent and child.

A caregiver making decisions for someone who is severely mentally disabled.

The liberation of a slave who wishes to remain in serfdom.

All of the above.

. Who famously wrote that power is ubiquitous, and that power relations between individuals are inevitable?

Marcuse.

Michel Foucault.

Rousseau.

Lukes.

. Which author is associated with the 'faces of power' debate?

Stephen Lukes.

Michel Foucault.

Stewart Clegg.

Antonio Gramsci.

. Give an example of the third dimension of power.

Wealthy oil companies funding studies that seek to deny the existence of man-made climate change.

Businesses supressing unions so that workers opinions are not taken into account on certain issues.

Pharmaceutical companies fund advertisements persuading the public they need a new drug, manufactured by the same pharmaceutical company.

Answers a and c.

. What is a problem associated with a sole focus on the first face of power, the decision-making approach?

The approach is very hard to research.

This approach misses the possibility that an elite group allows others to prevail in less important issues but always gets its way in important ones.

It ignores the possibility that an elite or ruling class can determine what issues are (and are not) discussed - the second face of power.

Answers b and c.

. The main problem with the third face of power is…

It can be patronising of the researcher to assume he/she perceives what is in the subjects' best interests, and it also assumes that the subjects themselves are easily manipulated.

It is only applicable to authoritarian regimes.

It gives too much credit to the individual.

All of the above.

. Structural Marxism is mainly associated with…

Antonio Gramsci.

Michel Foucault.

Eleanor Marx-Aveling.

Nicos Poulantzas.

Chapter 3 Self-test questions

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