Synopses & Reviews
Most agree with Lord Acton that power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely. It seems to apply to history's cruel dictators, perhaps also to the behaviour of current political and economic elites and even across the hierarchic organisations of our everyday lives. Yet there has been little study of how power corrupts, and in particular, how it does so beneath the awareness of those afflicted. This book brings together cognitive psychology and democratic theory to examine the subtle ways in which power corrupts and distorts our thinking. Drawing on the history of political ideas and current research on the nature of power, it shows that corruption affects both elites and subordinates, and that its symptoms are best treated by radical democracy. The books presents a rigorous and critical analysis of the hierarchic organisational form. It is thus a provocative exploration of the usually hidden, and little understood, psychological politics of organisations.
Synopsis
This is an interdisciplinary study of the actual mechanisms by which power corrupts. It pursues a cross-fertilization between political theory, organizational studies and cognitive science. In particular, it introduces advances in the field of cognitive psychology, which it uses to examine the effects of institutionalized power on how we think.
Synopsis
This is an interdisciplinary study of the mechanisms by which power corrupts. It incorporates political theory, organizational studies and cognitive science. In particular, it introduces advances in the field of cognitive psychology, which it uses to examine the effects of institutionalized power on how we think.
Synopsis
Introduction Corruption, Power and Democracy Psychologies of Power Individual Cognition Organisational Knowledge Democratic Conclusions Conclusion
About the Author
Dr. Ricardo Blaug is Reader in Democracy and Political Theory at the University of Westminster, UK, where he is Director of the Centre for the Study of Democracy. Formerly an emergency psychiatric social worker and with experience in public sector management and community organising, Ricardo Blaug is an award-winning author and teacher and has published books, academic articles, essays and research reports.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Corruption, Power and Democracy
3. Psychologies of Power
4. Individual Cognition
5. Organisational Knowledge
6. Democratic Conclusions
7. Conclusion