Concept of Power : Power is the centre point of politics. Hence, in political science, the concept of power has special importance.
In ancient time, army or power of soldiers had special importance but at present political power is paramount. Ancient Indian political scholars explained the different aspects of power. Among them Manu and Kautilya are main who considered the power of punishment an essential element of rule. Among Europeans, Greek philosopher Plato and Aristode accepted the importance of power in their books.
- Mackiyavallie, Hobbes, Catlin, Loswell, Mac-Iver, Organski, etc., are some of the important European political scholars who open heartly accept the importance of power. Mackiyavallie is considered the first thinker of powerism. Charles Marium has explained the different aspects of power in the modern political science.
- Catlin considered political science as science of power. He wrote, “Politics is such a field of competition in which a struggle goes on continuously among people to get power.”
- Loswell considered power as an essential component of politics. He told that activity of power in society is the main object of politics.
- Mac-Iver defined power in his famous book, “The wave of Government” as “Power is such an ability in any form by which one can make others to do work or compel them to obey his/her order.”
- Organsky said, “Power is the ability to influence others’ behaviour according to our aim”. According to Rober Biersted, “Power is the ability to employ force.”
- Edward Schils said, “Power is the ability to influence others to filful own purposes.”
- Karl J. Fredrick said, “Power is a kind of human relation.”
It is clear from above definitions that power is an important concept of politics. In fact those who have power can make others behaviours, works and thoughts in favour of themselves. Modern scholars say that power is an ability to do some work. It means when someone does some work for ownself or for others then it is said that he is using some power.
