second dimension of power
The ability not only to make people do something but to keep them from doing something
The second dimension of power focuses on agenda setting and shaping how issues are framed and discussed in society. This dimension suggests that power can be exercised by controlling what issues are discussed and preventing other issues from being given attention. It involves the ability of individuals or groups to shape the political agenda by determining what issues are to be debated and what issues will not be discussed.
For example, media organizations, interest groups, and political elites have the capacity to set the political discourse and shape public opinion. They can choose which events and issues receive media attention, what policies are proposed and what solutions are implemented. The power of agenda setting can shape the context in which individuals or groups make decisions and can ultimately influence how they view situations and issues.
One famous example of agenda setting was President George W. Bush’s framing of the War on Terror following the September 11th attacks. He framed the United States’ response as a necessary measure to defend against terrorism and spread democracy, which effectively framed the debate in a way that supported his policies. This shows how the second dimension of power can shape public perceptions of issues and influence policy outcomes.
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