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Analytical status of notions like: nth power
Abstract
RESEARCH OBJECTIVE: The purpose is to assess the analytical value of nth power type categories and to reflect on the usefulness of these categories in theoretical analyses.
THE RESEARCH PROBLEM AND METHODS: The author has adopted a theory-political point of view, hence he analyzes the ontological, cognitive and methodological status of these categories. He also analyzes their substantive content and compares them with the characteristics that are associated with the “phenomenon of power.” He also reflects on the role of these categories in scientific analysis – whether they are functional or dysfunctional in recognizing political phenomena, including the phenomenon of power in particular.
THE PROCESS OF ARGUMENTATION: The introduction formulates the detailed tasks of analyzing the concepts of the nth power, the origins of these concepts and their functions that they can perform in description of reality. Selected theories of power, within the framework of which analysis should be carried out, are presented in a synthetic way. Next, “influence” – sometimes equated with power, is analyzed, in addition, “the power of the media” and “the power of local government” as the “fourth power”.
RESEARCH RESULTS: In conclusion, the author states that concepts of the nth power type do not meet the conditions for analytical categories and are not useful in theoretical research. He also concludes that the “local government authority” is best predisposed to the role of the “fourth authority,” which does not mean that this is reason enough to permanently place it in this role.
CONCLUSIONS, INNOVATIONS, AND RECOMMENDATIONS: There is no need to introduce into the scientific language such poorly defined concepts as those of the nth power type. This is because any concept taken directly from colloquial language brings into scientific analysis not fully realized “meanings” that can be an obstacle to recognizing reality.
Keywords
power , nth power , theories of power , media, fourth estate
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