Power and Domination

Running head: POWER AND DOMINATION
Power and Domination
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Power and Domination
Introduction:
The concept of power and Domination are two most integral and important concepts in
sociology or rather in social science. Many sociologists, over the time have defined the
concept of power in different ways. From a general perspective, the concept of power is the
ability or the capacity of an individual to influence his or her own interest and understanding
over the behaviours or conducts of others. Power is essentially considered as a social evil and
is understood as unjustified. It is usually understood as the factors of interdependence
between two individuals or bodies. The concept of authority is often associated with the
concept of power, as with the practice or exercise of power, comes authority, that is, a
position to be practiced upon the individuals or the society or environment. The concept of
Domination is further attached to the concept of power and authority. The term domination
refers to the imposition of authority and the rigorous exercise of power upon the people. As
mentioned before, many sociologists have defined and worked upon the concepts of power
and domination. In the following essay, the concepts as defined by Karl Marx and Max
Weber will be discussed and their views will be illustrated. Along with that the concept of
Enlightenment Paradigm will also be discussed and the concepts of Social Change as
understood and illustrated by the same will also be discussed. However, for the start the
concept of oppression in the contemporary society will be discussed.
Oppression in Contemporary Society:
Oppression is essentially regarded as a form of abuse, whereby, two people share conflict
relationship, and one of them gains upon other by the use of systematic abuse and
exploitation. According to the sociologists, the social oppression refers to the system of
oppression with the use of social means and the abuse can be oppression of particular person
or the oppression of a group. The system of oppression generally occurs due to the social

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Power and Domination
hierarchies and positions due to race, class, sexuality and ability. It is observed that the
people who enjoy power and position are likely to practice the system of oppression and also
get to enjoy a greater access to rights and resources, privileges, a better quality of life and are
also provided with better life chances (Hollomotz, 2013). On the other hand, people who are
being oppressed are seen to be the people who are deprived of all the social rights and
choices and are provided with limited or no options. The sociologist are of thee opinion that
the oppression within the social system is systematic practice, and it uses the process of social
interaction, social institutions and social structure as the means of oppression, which can be
perceived both at the micro and macro levels (Feagin, Vera & Duckey, 2015). The forms of
oppression are essentially a part of the power authority. Therefore, on this note the concepts
of power and domination will be discussed as provided by Marx and Weber.
Concept of Power by Marx:
According to Karl Marx, the concepts of Power and Domination, has evolved from the
concepts of class and possessions. According to him the state holds power and position and
thereby, exercises oppression and domination across the state and this is true for all the forms
of states, capital or slavery. Group and political power of the state are the systems of strength
and the factor that determines which of the classes will old and enjoy the power and further
according to maintain the interests of these class groups. In order to discuss the concept of
domination, Marx has said that domination is determined by the production, and this
production is essentially the means of mental production or ideology. The concept of
domination is essentially related to the concepts of power, and Marx propounded that the
ability to dominate or the position to dominate comes along with the practice of exercising
power, which further gives birth to certain ideologies, which further enables the practice of
domination upon the people of the state (Worsley, 2013). However, Marx had also talked
about the concept of labour power, whereby, he viewed that the labours of the society will