Power and Politics - Coursework Example

Topic: Power and Politics Affiliation: Power and politics are two intertwined variables that highly complete the other especially in the political arena. Currently headed by President Obama, the U.S is regarded as a super power due to practice of authority over many countries across the world. In order to do this, President Obama has a fundamental practice of power, personally and under his mandate as the U.S President. As French and Raven points out, there are several bases of power. Those applied and used by Obama are presented in this paper.

French and Raven’s bases of power include legitimate, reward, expert, referent and coercive (Stewart & Haugaard, 2012, p.648). Some of these categories of power are applicable to President Obama. To start with is the legitimate power. The American people accept the fact that their president can make demands and those demands be met in accordance with the applicable law. Compliance by both Americans and non-Americas is expected when such demands are made. Obedience and law observance characterize this base of power.

Obama’s leadership is highly regarded a superior skill, characterized by superior knowledge (Stewart & Haugaard, 2012, p.703). This grants Obama power based on his expertise. His respect by the American people has constituted to the President’s power in governance and leadership, especially due to his efforts to reform the U.S healthcare system. President Obama’s capacity to punish for noncompliance gives him coercive power. The president can impose punishments or bans to an observed scenario or phenomenon that jeopardizes his governance and leadership.

ReferenceStewart, R, & Haugaard, C, (2012), Power and Politics, New York: SAGE Publications.