How to understand power - Eric Liu

Defining Civic Power00:00:11

Power is defined as the ability to make others do what you would have them do. In a civic context, it is the means of getting a community to take specific actions or make desired choices.

The Six Sources of Power00:01:32

Civic power stems from six main sources: physical force, wealth, state action (law/bureaucracy), social norms, ideas that motivate collective action, and the power of large numbers of people.

The Three Laws of Power00:03:13

Power follows three laws: it is never static (it accumulates or decays), it flows like water through society (policy is power frozen in time), and it compounds, meaning power tends to attract more power.

Learning to Read and Write Power00:04:48

To become effective, citizens must learn to 'read' power by mapping systems and understanding strategies, and 'write' power by organizing ideas and people, practicing consensus, and learning from experience.

The Importance of Character00:06:19

Beyond strategy, the application of power requires strong moral character. Ultimately, combining civic power with personal character is the defining quality of a great citizen.