Power and Society: A Framework for Political InquiryIn Power and Society, Harold D. Lasswell collaborates with a brilliant young philosopher, Abraham Kaplan, to formulate basic theoretical concepts and hypotheses of political science, providing a framework for further inquiry into the political process. This is a classic book of political theory written by two of the most influential social scientists of the twentieth century.The authors find their subject matter in interpersonal relations, not abstract institutions or organizations, and their analysis of power is related to human values. They argue that revolution is a part of the political process, and ideology has a role in political affairs. The importance of class, both as social fact and social symbol, is reflected in their detailed analysis, and emphasis on merit rather than rank, skill rather than status, as keystones of democratic rule.The authors note that power is only one of the values and instruments manifested in interpersonal relations; it cannot be understood in abstraction from other values. Lasswell and Kaplan call for the replacement of "power politics," both in theory and in practice, by a conception in which attention is focused on the human consequences of power as the major concern of both political thought and political action. The basic discussions of core concepts in political science make Power and Society of continuing importance to scholars, government officials, and politicians. |
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Power and Society: A Framework for Political Inquiry Harold D. Lasswell,Abraham Kaplan Limited preview - 2013 |
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action acts aggregate authority autocracy basis body politic C. L. Stevenson catharsis cerned changes characteristic coercion concept conflict considerations constitute counterelite course culture decisions defined definition degree demands deprivation distribution domain E. E. Evans-Pritchard economic effective power elite empirical example exer exercise of power expectations fact factors Federalist form of rule forms of power function hypothesis identifications important inquiry instance intensity interests involved Korkunov Lasswell leaders leadership limited Machiavelli Marxist mass matter moral oligarchy organized participation particular party pattern persons perspectives plutocracy political doctrine political formula political process political science political symbols potential power holders power position power practices power process power structure predispositions principle PROP propaganda proposition rational rational choice theory reference regard regime respect revolution rulers sanctions scope sense situation skill social structure society solidarity speak specified standpoint theory Timasheff tion tive utopia value position violence wealth