Below is a selection of lecture notes that approximate chronologically the topics and themes listed on the calendar. Lecture notes are not available for every session. During the fall of 2005, Aayesha Siddiqui took these notes especially for OpenCourseWare.
| Lec # | Topics |
|---|---|
| 1 | Introduction, Opening Discussion (PDF) |
| 2 | How do we Study or do Social Science? (PDF) |
| 3 | Continue Elaborating Definition of Power as Capacity to Produce Intended and Foreseen Effects on Others (PDF) |
| 4 | Film Showing: “Obedience and Conformity” |
| 5 | Continue Elaboration of the Definition of Power, Begin Discussion of What Power is Not: Influence and Conformity (PDF) |
| 6 | Film Showing: “Triumph of the Will” (2 hours) |
| 7 | Conformity and Influence, Then Introduction of Three Forms of Power: Manipulation, Persuasion and Force (PDF) |
| 8 | Force (cont.) (PDF) |
| 9 | Personal Power, Charisma, Leadership (PDF) |
| 10 | Charisma, Video of Reputedly Charismatic Leaders’ Speeches (PDF) |
| 11 | Explaining Power Differentials, from Classical Theory (PDF) |
| 12 | Classical Theories of Power, How do Differentials in Power Arise? (PDF) |
| 13 | How do Power Differential Arise? From Social Organization (PDF) |
| 14 | How do Power Differentials Arise: Lessons from Classical Social Theory (cont.), Review of Last Class: Max Weber (PDF) |
| 15 | How do Differentials in Power Arise? Lessons from Social Theory (cont.) (PDF) |
| 16 | How do Power Differentials Arise? Lessons from Social Theory, Marx (cont.) (PDF) |
| 17 | How is Power Institutionalized? Foucault (PDF) |
| 18 | How is Power Institutionalized and Exercised? (PDF) |
| 19 | Power Institutionalized (PDF) |
| 20 | Power Institutionalized, Concluded, Transformations in Authority in Modern World (PDF) |
| 21 | Transformations in Location and Sources of Authority, Examples of Professional Authority |
| 22 | Transformations in Location and Sources of Authority (cont.) (PDF) |
| 23 | Professional Authority and Cultural Hegemony (PDF) |
| 24 | Professional Authority and Cultural Hegemony (cont.): Deconstruction and Postmodern / Post / Structuralism (PDF) |
| 25 | Post-Modernism, Postmodernity and Power (cont.) (PDF) |
| 26 | Conclusion on Postmodernism / Postmodernity, Class Discussion (PDF) |
| 27 | Concluding Observations, Comments (PDF) |
Prof. Silbey’s Supplemental Materials
The Sources, Structure, and Transformation of Power (PDF)
Power Pyramid (PDF)
Intentions in Definition of Power and Symbols (PDF)
