Power and Powerlessness - Essay Example

? of Power and Powerlessness: Chapter Summaries This paper aims to summarize the followingchapters from the book Power and Powerlessness written by John Gaventa. The overall thesis of the book is to define the power framework and the three different dimensions by application of different models. These models have been referred as Dimensional approaches, mobilization of bias and disparity between the privileged and the less favored. Chapter 2: The case of a central Appalachian valley The chapter focuses on the economic activity in the Appalachian valley. The author has presented the case of the economic boom and crisis through different dimensions. In simpler words, it can be said that the chapter allows the readers to evaluate variable degrees of industrial activity of the society. It should be noted that the major purpose of the author to evaluate the historical traces of industrialization in the Appalachian valley is to apply the models as an overall thesis of the book. The chapter applied the link between the theoretical implications as well as the practical industrial history of the Appalachian society. This chapter does not taken any specific lens to the study of Appalachian valley but it rather sets a background in context for the next chapters (Gaventa). This chapter can also be considered as a contextual interlude providing a strong base to the system itself as well as the power mechanism being implied in the society for industrial as well as social reform. The case of the Appalachian has been drawn in this chapter on the basis of social, economical and political basis in a precis manner. Chapter 3: The Impact of Industrial Power: The Shaping of a Company Valley As evident from the title of the chapter, it holds a strong grip of the events regarding economic activity of the Appalachian valley. Likewise, any society in the history that has undertaken a positive transition and reached to the boom level of profits, Appalachian society has also followed the same pattern. The chapter allows the readers to get information regarding the ways in which the society was able to find out their industrial needs and level of efficiency that could have achieved. There are a number of areas which have been followed by the author in the chapter regarding the economic well-being of the society. The concept of demand has been touched in such a manner that it mixes all the necessary economic terms to provide a connected historical strand of the society. The author has also presented the reforms that took place to regulate the economic activity. This denotes that political governance was aware of the fact that increased economic activity needed a watch dog system. It was for this reason that the political as well as ideological apparatus was set. The consensus system set as per the efficiency level of the Appalachian valley has also been discussed in the chapter. This has rather worked as a bonus subject allowing the information sharing regarding power mechanism (Gaventa). Chapter 5: Inequality and Culture in the Contemporary Valley This chapter provides a narrowed lens to look from at the cultural grounds of Appalachian valley. The author has determined many aspects and concerns regarding the social inequality which was being noted at the valley as soon as people became much aware of their abilities and the standards which made them superior to others. This clarified a very common yet transitional way of a society. The chapter also focuses on the comparison between the prior social experiences of the Appalachian society as well as the contemporary social transitions. The highlight of the chapter is the thesis regarding inequality in the society. The author has presented the material in a thought provoking manner allowing the readers to relate it. The part under review also provides neutral joints to the other societies and Appalachian society. The lawmakers and major social institutions has been addressed in this chapter which makes it much easier to note that decision-making authority or power can negatively be used to cater only one group. This is synonymously discussed as favors. This is common agenda of the western civilization to make the richer to become much more powerful that setting policies becomes an interest game. On the other hand, the least privileged is the one against whom the policies would act. The word which has been used quiet commonly in this chapter is bias. This denotes the fact that mobilization in the lives of member of societies is merely due to the conflicting interests of the privileged one. It can also be understood in a way that describes mobilization of people with limitation because of the biased needs of the standardized or upper class (Gaventa). Chapter 6: Voting and Vulnerability This chapter holds an in-depth analysis of the social transitions that merely took place during the industrialization era. It should be noted that the author has made use of the non-taxation issues as a factor that had previously put a great impact on the voting system. In addition to the voting system, the chapter also includes interludes of models which rather affected the set up of the political and social reforms in the society under review. The most important aspect studied in the chapter under review is the coal wealth which became an ultimate focus of the political as well as corporate institutions of the society. This chapter also implies a very crescent view of the Appalachian valley with the help of cumulative defeat. In simpler terms, it can be well-asserted that the society would undergo system damage when the less privileged will have their say in terms of aggression. This is similar yet easier to note in the case of Appalachian society. Another important stance of the chapter is regarding the regime of a society. The author has noted in this part of the book that a democratic society would only be stable or free from conflicts in case there is tendency of sacrifice. It is because a democratic society gives rise to the expression of varied parties with different interests (Gaventa). Works Cited Gaventa, J. Power and Powerlessness: Quiescence and Rebellion in an Appalachian Valley. Illinois: University of Illinois Press, 1982. Read More