This section covers the whole range of theoretical and methodological issues having to do with power, and provides background for reading the more historically specific discussions of power in the United States at the national and local levels. Here, you can read about:

Find out how power is defined and measured by social scientists.

It's useful to be reminded that some things are true about power everywhere and at all levels of society: power "corrupts" those who hold it, "divide and conquer" is a main way to gain power, and creating an "outside enemy" is a good way to solidify power.

A brief overview and history of power structure research in the United States. Also of note is a newer article that examines C. Wright Mills, 50 years later.

Power is based in ideological, economic, military and political networks -- Michael Mann's "IEMP model." It's my preferred approach, leading to a class-domination theory when applied to the United States.

The main rivals to the Four Network theory: pluralism, state autonomy theory, elite theory, and Marxism.

I contrast the untenable psychological assumptions of conspiracy theories, which lead them to be wrong on the key issues, with the more solidly grounded sociological assumptions that are used by social scientists who study power.

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