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Question

Difficulty: EasyPower: Definition, Sources, Forms, and Acquisition

A ruler forces citizens to obey state laws through the threat of imprisonment and physical sanctions rather than relying on constitutional right or public consent. Which form of power is being demonstrated in this scenario?

  1. Coercive powerAnswer
  2. B
    Legal-rational authority
  3. C
    Traditional power
  4. D
    Charismatic power

Answer

Coercive power is the form of political power that relies on physical force, punishment, or threats to enforce compliance.
Coercive power is defined as the ability to compel obedience from others through force, sanctions, or the threat of punishment. Because the ruler relies on imprisonment and physical sanctions to enforce compliance, this represents coercive power.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the means of enforcement in the stem
The ruler uses physical sanctions and threats of imprisonment rather than legal legitimacy or personal appeal.
Identifying the mechanism used to obtain compliance reveals the specific category of power.
2
Map the mechanism to standard political science forms of power
The application of force or intimidation corresponds directly to coercive power.
Power based on punishment or force is defined as coercive power.

Key Concept

Coercive Power vs Legitimate Authority
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Topics

Power: Definition, Sources, Forms, and Acquisition

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