Power structure

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Very closely related to Thomas Kuhn’s idea of the paradigm, and Dr. Laurence J Peter’s of the hierarchy, a power structure is the self-organised structure that forms around a particular social purpose.

This can be obvious and institutional, as with a political organisation or the scientific academy — but it can be small-time: that’s how all power structures start: spontaneous, self-organisation of like-minded souls around a common interest. A student union is a power structure, so is a workplace, a cricket club and, loosely, a chat forum.

Even people who complain about power structures — at least ones who do in an organised and compelling way — have a power structure. Critical theory is a power structure. Power structures often outgrow their original purpose, because it is not the purpose but the power that is exciting.

See also

• Paradigm
• The Peter Principle: Why Things Always Go Wrong, and its concept of the hierarchy