Title: Expressions of power | Understanding power for social change | powercube.net | IDS at Sussex University
Headings: Expressions of power
Plan a workshop
Analyse power
Strategize for action
Expressions of power
Power Over
Power With
Power To
Power Within

Content: Lisa VeneKlasen and Valeries Miller in A New Weave of Power (2002, page 55) describe four ‘expressions of power’ as follows: Power Over
The most commonly recognized form of power, ‘power over’, has many negative associations for people, such as repression, force, coercion, discrimination, corruption, and abuse. Power is seen as a win-lose kind of relationship. Having power involves taking it from someone else, and then, using it to dominate and prevent others from gaining it. In politics, those who control resources and decision making have power over those without. When people are denied access to important resources like land, healthcare, and jobs ‘power over’ perpetuates inequality, injustice and poverty. In the absence of alternative models and relationships, people repeat the ‘power over’ pattern in their personal relationships, communities and institutions. This is also true of people who come from a marginalized or ‘powerless’ group. When they gain power in leadership positions, they sometimes ‘imitate the oppressor.’ For this reason, advocates cannot expect that the experience of being excluded prepares people to become democratic leaders.