Power to means the capacity of an actor to act, achieve an objective, or create change. Power over means the capacity of one actor to control, constrain, or shape the behaviour of another.
How the Two Forms of Power Work
Both concepts examine relationships between political actors, but they emphasize different mechanisms. Power to focuses on agency: what an individual, group, state, or organization is capable of accomplishing. Power over focuses on control: how one actor makes another actor behave differently from how they otherwise might.
| Concept | Central question | Contemporary example |
|---|---|---|
| Power to | What can an actor accomplish? | In 2023, Polish civil society organizations and opposition parties mobilized large demonstrations and voter-registration campaigns. Turnout reached 74.4% in the parliamentary election, contributing to a change of government. This illustrates collective capacity to produce political change. |
| Power over | Who controls or constrains whom? | Since returning to power in Afghanistan in August 2021, the Taliban has restricted girls' secondary and university education. Its control of state institutions allows it to limit the choices available to women and girls. |
The distinction is not absolute. An actor's power to achieve an objective may depend on exercising power over others. For example, a government's power to enforce public-health regulations may involve legal authority over individuals and businesses.
A common misconception is that power to is always beneficial and power over is always harmful. Either can produce different outcomes depending on whose interests are served, whether the exercise of power is considered legitimate, and how those affected respond.
Exam Technique
These classifications are prescribed content within the core topic Power in global politics for both Standard Level and Higher Level. In an exam response, define each concept precisely, provide a specific contemporary example with actor, date, and outcome, then analyse the relationship between them. Do not simply describe power as “influence”; explain whether the case demonstrates an actor's capacity to act or control over another actor.
