ABSTRACT
The realization of most societal goals, even in situations in which the actor’s commitment and knowledge are considerable, requires the application of power. The power of a unit can be predicted by studying its assets, its total structure, and its past performances in this regard. The concept of power has provoked many debates concerning the socio-political stance it implies. The tendency to associate power with conflict rather than with cooperation is part of a more general tendency to view power negatively. The sources of societal power are many and varied and include such intangible elements as the capacity of a societal unit to mobilize the loyalties of the membership and the efficacy of its organization and elites. Accordingly, coercion is used to refer to compliance relations in which there is or no effective choice. The difference between persuasion and influence is analogous to the difference between propaganda and education.
