The theme of power flows through my upcoming novel, The Ambition. Powerplays arise between characters, adding to the conflicts and complexity of the story.
The Merriam-Webster Dictionary lists one of the definitions of power as: “Possession of control, authority, or influence over others.” We all want control over our lives. But in our world, everything is mutually interdependent, and no one has total control over anything.
In 2018, Forbes Magazine listed the 75 world’s most powerful people. The top 5 at the time were: XI Jinping, Vladimir Putin, Donald Trump, Angela Merkel, and Jeff Bezos, indicating that major power in the world lies in the hands of mainly politicians and business people.
But power is not just in the hands of politicians and businesspeople. It can take underlying modes, as it organizes individuals in relation to one another, grouping between employer and employee, parent and child, householder and relatives, politicians and voters, and businesspeople and subcontractors.
Power dynamics, what is it?
Power dynamics imply the integral structures and influences of power between individuals and groups within a given framework. This concept expands beyond authority or control and stretches into privilege, dominance, influence, and communication styles.
Social structures such as age, race, class, and gender contribute to power dynamics. They can give or withhold power, affecting someone’s ability to make choices and impact outcomes.
When you read The Ambition, you see how power is applied and its impact on the protagonist and other characters.
