POLITICAL SCIENCE Chapter THE INFLUENCE: Influence

• School: University of Calicut
• Department: Humanities
• Course: POLITICAL SCIENCE

Document Summary

Influence is persuasive and one voluntarily submits to it. It does not require any coercive power and is also not attached to any idea or doctrine. Influence is meant ability to get others act, think or feel, as one intends. In democracies influence plays a very important role. Man voluntarily submits to influence and power requires submission. As regards political influence it is power sought by politically active persons like legislators, ministers, political leaders, etc. Political influence is the suitable outcome of possession - wealth, health, education, charm and other things and the skill with which they are made use of. Catlin has said that influence contributes to building up of a control system and is distinct from coercion, though it remains on the verge of power. Authority, leadership, political party, legitimacy are its various manifestations. Political sources of influence are money, food, information, threat of use of force, alliances, votes, laws, etc.