ABSTRACT
Basically, a paradox of power is one wherein a change in an actor’s control over resources or over the behavior of other actors causes an inverse change in the actor’s control over outcomes. This can mean two things: an increase in the actor’s ability to control resources or actors causes a decrease in the actor’s ability to control outcomes, or a decrease in control over resources or actors causes an increase in control over outcomes. The paradox of power can be best illustrated in the well-structured setting of voting in committees, wherein members know one another’s preferences and are capable of acting sophisticatedly. The author uses two examples to illustrate this paradox. One concerns the accumulation of supporters for a certain candidate. The other concerns the acquisition of prerogatives designed to ensure a more favorable outcome. In international conflicts, control over resources is measured in terms of some combination of military, economic, demographic, and political capabilities.
