Items related to Power (Concepts in the Social Sciences)
Synopsis
What is the nature of power in society and how can we study it? How do some lose and others benefit from the distribution of power? Why do some groups always seem to be at an advantage in disputes? In this useful and compact treatment, Keith Dowding provides an introduction to the study of political power that overcomes many of the old disputes about the nature and structure of power in society. Making the important distinction between power and luck, Dowding develops the concept of systematic luck and explains how some groups get what they want without trying, while the efforts of others are little rewarded. He discusses the "who benefits?" test, arguing that it cannot reveal who has power because many benefit through luck and others are systematically lucky. Power does not simply put forward theoretical arguments, however; relevant concepts are used to illustrate and explain the debates on power at both the national and local level. Clearly and accessibly written, this volume is a valuable resource for anyone interested in the structure of society as it is, and as it should be.
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About the Author
Keith Dowding teaches at the London School of Economics. He has published widely in political theory, urban politics, British politics and public choice including books entitled Rational Choice and Political Power and The Civil Service (Routledge, 1995). He co-edited Preferences, Institutions and Rational Choice and is now co-editor of the Journal of Theoretical Politics.
Review
"...written with enthusiasm and a commitment to clarity...Lyon shows that the employment of a sociological imagination can add new and unexpected depth to cultural analyses." - Keith Tester, University of Portsmouth
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