The means of asserting one’s position are displayed, and one’s power is celebrated. People become
intoxicated with the tools of war and look forward to the coming power struggle. The other side is forced into a power struggle; there is still no possibility of an agreement and, therefore, no evasion. Offering cooperation at this point would be a sign of weakness.
Those who use power for the benefit of the community take responsibility and work for a better world.
Those who use power for their benefit are abusing their power and will have to bear the consequences.
Further reading regarding power struggle:
Definition of power: In research power can be defined as a dynamic between individuals where one party holds more influence due to their control over resources that are valued within the relationship.1; 2
Power in negotiations: Galinsky and Magee (2017: 606) define power in negotiations as “the probability that a negotiator will influence a negotiation outcome in the direction of his or her ideal outcome”.
Additionally, they name different sources of power:2
- Information: Power in negotiations is comparative, so knowing about the other party’s sources of power is essential for successful negotiation.
- Status: A negotiator’s level of respect from the other party influences outcomes. Higher-status negotiators are more likely to have their demands met compared to lower-status negotiators.
- Social Capital: Building and maintaining a robust social network can enhance negotiation power. More and stronger connections can improve a negotiator’s options, thereby increasing their power.
Power in politics: In politics, the power struggle is conducted through both hard and soft power.3 Soft power involves co-opting others through culture, foreign policy, and political values, while hard power refers to coercion through military or economic means. During the power struggle, opposing parties leverage various tools, such as promoting their political values (e.g., liberalism, democracy), engaging in international diplomacy, or waging a war of misinformation3, while also resorting to military and economic measures.4; 5
References:
1 Dahl, R. A. 1957. The concept of power. Behavioral science, 2(3): 201–215.
2 Galinsky, A. D., Schaerer, M., & Magee, J. C. 2017. The four horsemen of power at the bargaining table. Journal of Business and Industrial Marketing, 32(4): 606–611.
3 Nye, Joseph S., Jr. 2005. Soft power: The means to success in world politics. New York: Public Affairs Books.
4 Barr, M., Feklyunina, V., & Theys, S. 2015. Introduction: the soft power of hard states. Politics, 35(3–4): 213–215.
5 Nye, J. S. 2009. Get smart: combining hard and soft power. Foreign Affairs, 88(4): 160–163.
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