A theory of power

Power is the most desired asset of the world. It comes in many shapes and there are many methods to generate it. This document introduces a simple classifaction of common actions around power. Thereby a framework is created that helps analyzing and plotting strategies that maximize power.

1 Three manifestations of power

Power can be classified into three different types. Each has its own characteristics.

• Authority Authority gives you immediate control over the actions of others. This manifestation of power is most volatile. Usually it is not tied to your person, but only to a specific position that is temporarily granted to you by the system.
• Money Money is the most flexible manifestation of power. It can lie down completely invisible to others. Yet, it can unfold its latent potential with great rapidity.
• Status Status is the most subtle manifestation of power. It is measured by the amount of attention paid to your person. It is the respect that you enjoy in society. Ultimately it is the most permanent and most fulfilling.

2 Three ways to increase power

Power can never be generated out of nothing. There are three different ways of leveraging any existing trait of power.

• Terrorize If you enjoy authority and want to increase it then you must terrorize your subordinates. If they don't respect you make them fear you. The ultimate example of pure authority is an army general without access to the state budget. He has huge resources at his direct disposal, but he is without status outside the military system.
• Invest If you have money and want more then you have to invest. You can lend the power of liquidity to others and take interest rate in return. Taken to the extreme you will become an investment banker. Because you work in small and efficient teams there is no hierarchy to command. Apart from that, everyone hates you.
• Perform If you enjoy social status and strive for more you have to perform. It can be a public display of your abilities or by adding to your portfolio of inventions and artistic pieces. Ultimately you may become a saintly person. Thousands of devotees will recite your words day by day, but none of it will ever be taken into action.

3 Three prerequisites for transforming power

Each type of power is incomplete by itself. Therefore you will want to transform them into each other. This is either because you find it easier to generate one kind of power, or because changing circumstances must be answered with a changed mix of power.

• Obedience If authority and money need to be exchanged pure obedience is required. People must do as told or as paid for. Status is not necessary. The most despised mafiosi masters this with ease. Status can even become a problem, as people may try to appeal to your ethical values or start pondering the moral validity of your transactions.
• Trust If authority and status are to transformed trust must be present. In the absence of money liabilities can not be settled immediately. The presence of money can even inhibit this kind of transaction. Due to its hidden potential people might raise doubts about your true intentions.
• Celebration If status and money are to be exchanged you need to celebrate yourself. Great publicity and an atmosphere of admiration is required. Authority can become disadvantageous, as it might turn your celebration into a stiff display or an ordered parade.

4 Six ways of converting power

Once the requirements are met you can start transforming each blend of power. There are two directions of transformation, one will be called the compliant route the other is the dark route.

The compliant route, displayed here as the outer circular connections, consists of three transformations:

• Organize You can utilize your authority to generate status if you organize. Make the parts at your disposal become more than their sum. They may not fully understand your masterly plan while they execute it, but they will certainly admire the results once they manifest. Always remember, that it is not important how gained the authority. The most cruel emperors are only remembered by there achievements, not by their unholy deeds.
• Brand Once you enjoy status it will become easy for to sell products and make money. If you are not good at selling you can attach your good name with any arbitrary product. You can also support an existing brand by allowing it to take advantage of your reputation or your skills.
• Hire Money can then be turned into authority by hiring employees. As longs as it is about a job getting done you will always find someone who is willing to work for your money. From there the cycle can start again.

The dark route is displayed as the inner triangular connections. It consists of the opposite transformations:

• Extort Turning authority into cash is the most crude and most direct way. You can simply extort money, or depending on the view point, you might call it the taking of bribes. Because of its crudeness most legal systems impose strict limitations on this type of method.
• Advertize Money can be converted it into status. This is done by advertizing your name or by decorating yourself with status symbols. Advertisement is always unwanted if it is blatant and detected as such. If you need to stay safe you can try a large charity donation and hope that other talk about you.
• Indoctrinate Status can be turned into authority if you abuse your channel of attention to indoctrinate your audience. Famous movie stars were voted by their fans for president of powerful states. This will work easily if your character is recorgnized as trustworthy.

5 Three styles of governance

There three main styles of governance, depending on which methods of power maximization is primarily used.

• Anarchy In anarchy the different aspects of power are unconnected. Militarian authority, economic wealth, and intellectual knowlegde do not form a consistent whole.
• Utopia In Utopia authority is utilized to organize state affairs. Due to successful organization a new brand, such as "Made in Utopia" will gain in value. Ideally, demand for this value is large enough for people to pay for extra services around it. The earnings can be used to hire executive authorities.
• Oppression In an oppressive state authority is primarily used to extort excessive taxes from its citizens. The money is then funneled into a massive indoctrination campaign, which in turn talks people into supporting the system.
  Because this system naturally depletes power, it must be accompanied with at least one extra source.
  • Police An oppressive state can be supported by a massive use of secret and public security services.
  • Resources An oppresive state can be supported by the rich availability of natural resources. The resulting money can pay everyone into obedience.
  • Religion An oppressive state can be supported by a tight believe system that makes people pay respect for complex religeous ceremonies.

6 Three aspects of economy

In a functioning economy all three styles of power must be present. There are three aspects that are required for the natural exchange of coresponding power types.

• Production Production is all about gaining efficiency in a sequence of repetitive constructive steps. Obedient execution is more important than innovative experiments.
• Education In academia existing normative knowledge is taught. Educational institutions are organized in chronical shortage of money, as that would distort long term innovative goals with short term interests.
• Market The market is based around advertizing and branding. Freedom is valued higher than regulative authorities.

7 Three natural conflicts

Three natural conflict arise from their opposing positions in the power triangular. Managing or overcoming those conflicts poses a large potential for the effective generation of power.

• Market regulation A Market is a place for the free exchange of money and skills. Authority enforces rules that might constrict trade, but certainly ensure the reliability of the offered products and services.
• Education funding Education is centered around the ideas of reputation, respect, and learning. It is the source for long term innovation and future wealth, but money must stay away from giving directions following short term interests.
• Business values Small businesses often operate on a tight budget with little room for ethical considerations. Building a competitive cooperation around socially accepted values can be the key for long term growth and stability.

8 Three traits of personality

Concerning the preference for power there are three major personality traits.

• Authoritarian The authoritarian character is mainly concerned about ruling over others. Money is taken when possible, but mainly for the purpose of hiring additional personell. Events are organized, if it helps the goal of indoctrinating participants into specific actions.
• Merchantilistic The merchantilistic character is mainly concerned about money. Empoyees are hired, but only if the money that is returned compensates the expenditures. Advertizements are placed, but only if the increased monetary value of ones brand reaches a positive net return.
• Ideological The ideological character is mainly concerned about her reputation in society. Indoctrination of society is not abstained from, if the resulting action is targeted at a respected goal. Ones name is also used to earn money, if that can be used to further advertize oneself.

9 Summary

Power was classified into three different types with three main categories for interchange. No form of power of them is complete. Each of them is equally valuable. Each is of ephemeral nature. Never crave for one type of power. Never despise another. Ultimately, your freedom to act is not determined by the amount of power you have, but by your ability to convert your power into its most adequate mix.