Gevanta's "power and powerlessness" explains more about the power reigns in society. The book puts forth how the two groups, those in power and the powerless, interact. The books also narrate the relationship between power and poverty and power and politics. Additionally, the relationship between the rulers and the ruled is vividly described based on their actions and reactions. Gevanta narrates the three faces of power and how they are established in society, consequences, and the frictions between the two groups- those in power and the ruled.
The most distinct face of power is the third management style, where one party takes the entire ruling mantle, and the other group is ruled. In this scenario, as explained by Gevanta, those in power are assumed to know the interests of the entire population they lead. The robust take control of everything, including deciding on what the powerless need and what they do not deserve. Notably, this kind of power is exhaustive and colonial. Also, policies implemented in the third face of power favor the powerful lot, with less consideration of the powerless.
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Besides, the third face of power is characterized by minimal conflicts in society. Less chaos is witnessed due to the dictating nature of those in power. The complete control of the land's livelihoods and activities is left out to the group in leadership. For instance, those in power tend to blame the victims (powerless) for not participating in management. The powerful have several devised ways to avoid rebellion from the vulnerable. First, there is no room for fairness and justice in society. In the powerful disagreeing with the powerless, when the complainant forwards the matter to a court of law, the influential group has greater chances of winning the case due to their wealthy nature compared to the powerless, low, and oppressed people.
Moreover, in their quest to avoid rebellion from the powerless, the powerful lot limit the type and amount of information that reaches their subjects. Hiding information serves to prevent the vulnerable from knowing their rights, what they can do to overthrow undeserving leadership, and control how grievances are addressed. The third face of power is visible in governments and industries. Many civil servants, such as health workers and teachers, are subjected to the third face power. Whenever the employees wish to start a protest against poor working conditions and wages, they are encountered by police brutality send by their employers- the government. Precisely, the powerful use force to reinforce their policies and maintain order, even when the complainants’ reactions are justified constitutionally. Also, industrial employers limit the amount of knowledge that reaches their employees to keep them in poor working conditions as they do not know their rights. Additionally, the threats of terminating one's contract serve a great danger to the desperate employees to keep them calm.
The author was correct to note that in the third face power, the powerful oppress the powerless. It is also true that the representatives are mostly interested in their motives rather than the society's needs. Again, the vulnerable have to accept what they are given, not necessarily what they needed. On the other hand, the author did not justify why the powerless continue to stay in the status quo when they are the majority, and they can change the leadership through elections. Also, the vulnerable complain when the current power is out, meaning that they enjoyed the relationship.
In conclusion, the relationship between the two groups is oppressive. However, even though one group determines the powerless's interests, there are chances of the powerless taking control. A bold unity among the powerless is enough to conquer the influential group.
