Talcott Parsons: Power and system

• Published in: Zbornik Matice srpske za društvene nauke no. 124; pp. 75 - 87
• Main Author: Pavlovic, Vukasin
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 2008
• ISSN: 0352-5732; 2406-0836
• DOI: 10.2298/ZMSDN0824075P

The author critically presents Talcott Parsons' theory of power. According to Parsons, power is a generalized capacity to secure the performance of binding obligations by units in a system of collective organization when the obligations are legitimized with reference to their bearing on collective goals and where in case of recalcitrance there is a presumption of enforcement by negative situational sanctions - whatever the actual agency of that enforcement. This definition of power does not offer enough satisfying answers to the issues of interest and power conflicts as well as of social and political change. Clanak se bavi kritickim predstavljanjem teorije moci Talkota Parsonsa. Prema Parsonsu, moc je uopstena sposobnost da se obezbedi sprovodjenje vazecih obaveza sastavnih delova u sistemu kolektivne organizacije, kada su obaveze legitimizovane s obzirom na njihovu nosivost kolektivnih ciljeva i gde u slucaju neposlusnosti postoji pretpostavka prisilnih negativnih situacionih sankcija, bez obzira na vrstu stvarnih agenata ovog nametanja. Ovo odredjenje ne nudi zadovoljavajuce od-govore o interesnim konfliktima moci, kao ni o drustvenim i politickim promenama. .