A critical discourse analysis of power and ideology

Scientific Essay from the year 2011 in the subject Sociology - Individual Groups Society grade: 4 course: CDA language: English abstract: This paper has shown the relations of critical discourse analysis (CDA) to Power and Ideology trying to present the most common theories of power by which the term power can be defined. Though it is difficult to find an agreed definition of power because its concept is essentially contested all approaches are true and there are general understandings among them: first the operation of power is the ability to get an individual to behave or not to behave in a particular manner and the ability to achieve one's goals while denying others access to the same. Second modern power is persuasive and manipulative rather than coercive (i.e. using of force) or incentive such as the explicit issuing of commands orders threats or economic sanctions. Third Power can be ideological commonsensical or symbolic and within these confines it can operate at a range of different levels: the social individual military state-based legal and so on. Fourth although the process of power may be realized in different ways and in different social environments the resources of power utilized may not be of the same type. Fifth some individuals or groups may access or use strategic resources to maintain a position and a status of power over others.