It may be said that the institution of power has always been a prevalent force in our It is a large part of what holds society together; without it civilized society as we know it would not exist. The functions of power range from keeping crime at bay to the more commonplace aspects such as allowing patrons to be served in a restaurant. The notion of poweris almost invisible until further analyzed; it is something that we perceive as being simpleand therefore take for granted. Yet there are so many intricacies in regard to power that still remain to be seen. In Chapter Three of Sociological Insight by Randall Collins, the author establishes some valid points concerning power. He posits that power is something of a self-contradiction, that it is often most effective when subtly exercised. Collins also delves into the various forms that power may take, such as money and coercion, which are negated as valid forms of power. Lastly, the importance of implicit principles and understandings is emphasized, also illustrating that power is most firmly established in the realms of both certainty and uncertainty. In accordance with the title of Chapter Three, Paradoxes of Power, Collins' main point is that power is truly a contradiction; the word itself evokes images of monarchs and times long gone by. But in the present day and an era marked by the rise of democracy, power has little todo with such institutions; rather it something that is exercised on high levels as well as lower ones.Although it is something not often thought about, power is everywhere. It is evident in the legal system's prosecution of criminals and a child's compliance with a mother's request; it is entirelypossible that power exists in some form within every human and social relationship. Yet some forms of power are certainly more effective than others. The key to realizing power most effectively lies in the acknowledgement of occasional concession and...
