ABSTRACT
Power refers to the ability of a person, institution or social system to accomplish their ends-often by influencing the behaviour of others. The word 'democracy' derives from the Greek words for people (demos) and power (kratia). Thus a democratic society is one characterised by 'people power' or 'rule by the people'. Especially in democratic countries where governments are elected, educational institutions are currently mired with questions about who has power, why and what for. Many people think of power as an issue of politics, not of education, as if we could draw a clear line between them. It is relatively easy to look at a classroom, or a staffroom, or a society, and to identify who is more powerful, and who is less. The French sociologist Michel Foucault suggests that power is present in all human relationships.
