Politics is about Power
by Franklin L. Foster, Ph.D.
“Politics” is best defined as “the struggle for the power to
set the rules for a society”.
Among the many tools used in these
struggles is the control of time and space. Spatial tools
range from restricted entry, exclusive space, or higher
elevations. In ancient societies, these were common in, for
example, grand staircases leading up to the palaces of the
kings or the temples of the gods. Modern society is
probably more concerned with the control of time.
A visit to a doctor’s office provides a
classic example of this tool in action. Have you ever
arrived at the doctor’s office and been told, “The doctor
has been waiting for you, please go right in”? Not likely.
Even if you are late, you will be required to wait because
the purpose is to demonstrate that the doctor is in the
position of power. The one who waits is inferior; the one
who is waited upon has the power. The specialist, who has
even more “power” can enforce wait times stretching several
months.
Once in with the doctor, we
see another tool of power politics – the interruption. The
interruption is about the control of the flow of time.
Studies have shown repeatedly that when the patient is asked
to explain their complaint, the doctor will interrupt within
20 seconds. [In cases of male doctors and female patients,
the interruption will occur even sooner – about 15
seconds.] The interruption signals that the doctor is in
the position of power. The sooner and the more frequent the
interruptions, the larger is the power differential that is
being claimed.
Some “societies” have
institutionalized controls over interruptions. The
classroom, in the old days at least, saw the teacher in the
position of power and students rigidly restricted in their
ability to interrupt. Students had to raise their hand and
wait to be recognized before they could speak. This same
protocol is also evident in meetings. The chair person is
in the power position and only those who are recognized by
the chair can claim the floor and have their (limited)
exercise of power while being protected from interruptions.
Hecklers are challengers of the speaker’s power and are
claiming the power position for themselves. Thus, on
occasion, this power struggle escalates into threats,
emotional outbursts and even physical violence. All these
are, of course, other, ancient, tools of the struggle for
power.
So, the next time you are in
a social situation, observe attempts to control space and
time through such devices as the use of interruptions.
Those who are claiming the power position will interrupt.
There may be challenges by other interrupters in the
struggle for the power to hold “the floor” (i.e. the
dominant position). Individuals with loud voices, or those
who speak rapidly, or those who use lots of “umns” are all
attempting to reduce the threat of interruptions and
exercise power. Controlling the flow of time, by enforcing
wait times, or exercising or restricting interruptions, are
powerful tools in the struggle for power that we call
“politics”. Oh, excuse me while I take this call.
