What is Power?

Power can be broadly defined as the capacity to bring about change. It takes many forms, comes from many places, and is measured in many ways. Economic power, political power, and personal power are a few examples. Economic power can be broken down to communism, and capitalism. Capitalism is the system based on private ownership of capital. Communism is the system where private ownership is abolished.

During the Cold War, between 1945-1989 there was the shifting of power between USA and the USSR. The United States was a capitalist country, while the USSR was communist. Countries wanted to show that their system was better than the other. They both tried influencing other countries by spreading their ways, and preventing the spread of the opponent. Also present was the military competition. Whoever had more military armies and forces, were proven better. In addition, the Soviet Union had challenged and blocked sectors of the Berlin Wall. With the power of USA, they had withdrawn the blockade, and the sectors dividing the two had fallen with the fall of the Berlin Wall.

Political power can be defined as a power held by a group in a society. During the years of the Russian Revolution, the ruler of the country was Tsar Nicholas. The Russian Revolution had the poorest living conditions, vast gaps in wealth, and was underdeveloped. Later during the years, Tsar Nicholas had established the Duma parliament, which he had given enough power to. Violence continues, and unrest was still growing in cities. After riots, and the assassination, Tsar Nicholas then steps down. The Duma now has power. Later on the Bolshiveks step in, and the Soviet Union is created and replaces the Russian Empire.

Personal power can be defined as each individual’s ability to bring out change. During the years of World War II, Hitler was a main part of power. Hitler had wanted to dominate Europe, and the world. He had the power to himself, but did not give the right for power to others. Today, globalization can be a form of individual power. The rapid change occurring is now because of each of us personally. The people have been helping in the creation of new technologies, and these have been affecting our lives. Today, we hold our own power whether or not we chose to do something, or not.

Today, personal power is present, but not everywhere.
Economic power, political power, and personal power are the main types. Economic power has brought change in places such as Russia. The use of political power gives a group the hold of power, and personal power gives each individual their own rights. Overall, power can be defined as the ability to change. All these types of power have been efficient in bring change to us, and our lives.