Topic > Three Dimensions of Power by Steven Lukes

In the reading A Radical View, Steven Lukes provides three dimensions of power. It describes the second dimension as a person or group who creates or reinforces social and political values ​​and institutional practices that limit the scope of the political process to public consideration. The third dimension is described as convincing someone to do what they don't want and exercising power over that person by influencing and shaping their wants and needs. An example of the second dimension would be how during a press conference, a White House press secretary decides and limits what questions and topics will be discussed, thus controlling the conversation. The public only has what was discussed in the briefing to form opinions and make decisions. This example shows how controlling a situation reduces the choices people can make or prevents decisions from being made all together, because ignoring or preventing something from being on the agenda is a form of exercising power. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay Mobilization-related biases are also part of the second dimension. An example of a mobilization bias would be current and past voting laws. In the past, some citizens had to pay a tax to vote in elections, which prevented poor people from voting. Currently, thirty-four states require identification to vote, and seven of these states have very strict identification laws in place. Voter ID laws prevent low-income people and minorities from voting because they usually cannot afford to purchase an ID or travel to purchase one. Mobilization biases establish institutional procedures and rules that systematically operate to benefit certain groups at the expense of others. Voter ID laws benefit rich, white Americans, at the expense of poor and minority Americans. An example of Lukes' third dimension is advertising in the media. Advertisements can use manipulative tactics to influence and determine viewers' wants and needs, which gives power to the companies showing the advertisements. Another example would be how propaganda is used to influence and shape the wants and needs of the public. For example, if a politician pushes for anti-climate change legislation, then that politician would deliberately structure their speech to change the public's opinion and sway it in their favor. They could achieve this only by showing the facts from their point of view, talking only about the advantages of their point of view, and distorting the arguments against their opinions. Controlling information and shaping preferences is one way people exercise power. Steven Luke's arguments for the second and third dimensions of power are valid based on these descriptions and examples.