Power Is the Ability of People or Groups to Exert Their Will over Others and Get Their Own Way, Even If Sometimes Others Resist This

POWER IS THE ABILITY OF PEOPLE OR GROUPS TO EXERT THEIR WILL OVER OTHERS AND GET THEIR OWN WAY, EVEN IF SOMETIMES OTHERS RESIST THIS

This essay looks at concepts of power as seen by Durkheim, Weber and Focoult. These sociologists may have had different concepts regarding rules and norms but the subject of power, whether directly or indirectly, can be seen throughout their theories. Durkheim pointed to shared beliefs, Weber points to ideas and values (Giddens,2009). The essay examines Durkheim and Weber and examples of their theories that have been played out in Ireland. In order to examine the effect of the rules and norms of Irish society - an example of how a minority group were treated in Ireland and how it proves both Durkheim’s and Weber’s theories to be true. Secondly, a look at Focoult’s theory of discourse and showing how it is used by the Irish government to achieve its aims. Furthermore, showing the roll that lobbying groups can play and whether it is possible to achieve results.

“Durkheim believed that shared beliefs in a society were oppressive, which inhibit or restrain personal freedom. The community swiftly punishes anyone who challenges conventional ways of life. In this way there is little room for individual dissent. He also points to social facts exercising a coercive power over individuals but people do not recognise these social facts as coercive and generally comply freely, believing they are acting out of choice” (Giddens, 2009). “Max Weber saw ideas and values having more of an impact on social change. Religious values were of central importance in creating the capitalist outlook. These ideas, values and beliefs had the power to bring about change. Weber felt there were three sources of authority: traditional, charismatic and rational legal. Weber explained Traditional authority as power legitimised through respect for long-established cultural patterns” (Giddens, 2009). If we take both of these theories and apply them to the laws preventing homosexuality in Ireland we can see clearly how the theories came into effect through the Catholic Church, the government, the law courts and the community at large.

Up until 1993 it was illegal to be a practising homosexual in public or private. Two trends of thought on the matter were ‘live and let live’ which can be seen in John Stuart Mill’s essay On Liberty where he declares “The only purpose for which power can rightfully be exercised over any member of a civilised community against his will is to prevent harm to others” (Mill,1980:63). The second and in complete contrast to Stuart Mill, “Lord Patrick Devlin found a resemblance between immorality-in the sense of the infringement of a society’s shared moral code-and treason, and argued that the suppression of such immorality was as much the law’s business, and justifiable on the same grounds, as the suppression of subversive activities”