Power, Politics and Conflict Chapter 14

1. Power, Politics and Conflict Chapter 14

2. Introduction This lecture will: Introduce the topic of power in organizations Explain key debates on power in the OB field Convey an understanding of systems of power, authority, influence and hegemony Outline a range of theories on power, including those of Mann, Gramsci and Foucault

3. What is Power? (1) There a many definitions of power Firstly we have ‘common sense’ views of power – that it is a kind of energy, like electricity This view of power is very persistent in the literature However, Dahl defines power in interpersonal terms 'A has power over B to the extent that he can get B to do something that B would otherwise not do..‘ (Dahl, 1957) Power is clearly related to authority and influence (French and Raven) Power can also be viewed as diffuse (not a simple unitary entity which a state or organization possesses) (Mann, 1986)

4. Theories of Power (1): Giddens & Habermas Giddens’s structuration theory shows the complex inter-relationship of human freedom (agency) and structure For Giddens, power is a feature of human choices mixed with ‘authority’, and the distribution of resources which take control of time and space Contrastingly, Habermas describes ideology as a communications structure and describes power as ‘penetrating the life-world of daily activities’

5. Figure 14.1 - Giddens’s Model of Structuration

6. Theories of Power (2):Weber and Lukes A contrasting theory is that of Weber, who outlines three types of authority: charismatic, traditional and rational This theory is reflected in the work of Wrong (see next slide) Lukes relates power to the ‘bringing about of consequences’ An acceptance of the legitimacy of power entails the creation of authority In cases of conflict of interest in power relations, Lukes argues that power rather than influence is the operative force

7. Figure 14.2 - Wrong on Influence and Power

8. Figure 14.3 - Steven Lukes’s Vision of Power

9. Theories of Power (3):Foucault Foucault wrote widely on the micro-politics of power: He dwells on the agency/structure contrast He looks at the relationship of the individual and society and the tensions revealed His writing was concerned with the repressive and subtle nature of the creation of power relations in society (Foucault, 1980)

10. Theories of Power (4): Gramsci and the Theory of Hegemony Hegemony is a subtle expression of socio-political predominance of a group or groups It is associated with the domination and leadership of a group over other groups in society It is linked to the theories of Gramsci Gramsci developed the theory of a system of alliances within a hegemonic bloc of interests Some research (Williams) has emphasised counter-hegemonic practices in emergent forms of practice Gramsci and Williams are macro-level theorists

11. Theories of Power (5) A underpinning theoretical influence on these theorists is Nietzsche He evolved a idea of the will to power Micro-theoreticalapproaches include: Goffman (1959) – examines the presentation of the self in everyday life Krippendorf (1995) – examines gender relations relative to discourse and verbal exchanges between genders Game theory – a subset of rational choice theory

12. Power in the Workplace (1) Collinson (influenced by Foucault) argues that despite an apparent decline in workplace disputes, power struggle in the workplace continues It is expressed in both domination and resistance and can still be present in cases of consent This approach is known as labour process theory It points towards asymmetries in contemporary organizations, reflecting employee resistance and managerial control Workers can gain access to technical/production knowledge despite being denied other sources of knowledge It advocates resistance by distance – limiting information given to management – and resistance by persistence

13. Power in the Workplace (2) Recent research on power explores: How power is experienced in the workplace The issue of 'exit and voice' This relates to the relationship between political action (voice)/exit behaviours, and job stress (Mayes & Ganster, 1988) The issue of 'fit' of employee in the thought of Gramsci and Foucault Worker resistance (Goltz and Hietapelto, 2002)

14. Conclusion (1) Analysis of power shows its deep well springs and roots; these are expressed by ideology Gramsci and Foucault are examples of this These authors argue that power has two facets: consent, accommodation and domination (control features often achieved by ideology); resistance (often by workers – including lack of commitment, stress, political action and ‘voice’) Hegemonic blocs of power achieve dominance by our complicity - Gramsci and Foucault reflect this

15. Conclusion (2) Collinson represents a variant of these types of theories by expressing a link between Labour process theory and new sociological approaches to power It must be recalled however, that the issue of resistance only occurs in the context of cases in which legitimacy ought be challenged Not all power or systems instituting power are necessarily bad That said, subjects seem entitled to resist when power exceeds its lawful bounds or it is not duly lawfully constituted This may be a question of historical interpretation or choice of belief in a state