The Idea of Power and the Role of Ideas

Abstract

Since the mid-1970s, the social science debate over the meaning of the idea of power has intensified. Offering a critical discussion of the work of Steven Lukes, this brief article puts forward an amended definition of political power before exploring the relationship between ideas, interests and power relations. Drawing on the recent social science literature on the role of ideas in politics, the article suggests that, among other things, ideational processes help actors make sense of their perceived interests. As argued, this recognition of the power of ideas sheds new light on the idea of political power. Finally, following Craig Parsons, the article discusses the relationship between four types of explanatory factor in political analysis: structural, institutional, ideational and psychological.