U9D1-12 & S1 - What issues of culture and power can be related to members of non-dominant or diverse populations? See Details Below.

Power is generally defined as the ability to exercise authority over someone. It can be taken for granted by the

person who wields it or the person who does not, or it can be a central and defining aspect of the relationship.

In either case, the individual who is at the mercy of that power plays a role in the relationship as well, since

power by its definition requires a receiver.

Power can be used for good or evil, unless it is allowed through some legal or official authority, in which case it

is considered value-neutral. Formal responsibilities, such as the power entrusted to police officers, judges, or

even tax auditors, can also be misused, in which case it is considered power gone wrong.

In public administration, power and particularly political power, can be overt, the formal authority, or covert, the

influence that someone can exercise in ways that are not apparent. People can have both. Public power may not

be as influential as private power, but both work together to accomplish public goals. How many times have we

heard of government negotiations behind the scenes that resulted in an event, positive or negative, that was an

example of power? Remember the case where former U.S. president Bill Clinton traveled to North Korea and

secured the release of two journalists who had been convicted of entering the country illegally and committing

"hostile acts"? Mr. Clinton's power, both overt and covert, played a significant role in the positive outcome of

that situation.

Some would argue that public workers, not elected or appointed officials, wield the most power in public sector

settings, because they are the constant force that continues on even when political parties change and

government priorities evolve. Learning how to use power as a public benefit is an important tool for all public

administrators, and in this unit, you will analyze how public administrators can use power to enhance public

value in our multicultural environments.

OBJECTIVES

To successfully complete this learning unit, you will be expected to:

1. Demonstrate an understanding of the theories of culture, their impact on society, and their various

applications in the public administration field.

2. Examine the concept of power as a value in public participation settings.

3. Discuss the importance and roles of culture in understanding how power affects the communication

process for public administrators.

Unit 9 Culture and Power

[u09s1] Unit 9 Study 1

STUDIES

Readings

Use the Griswold text, Cultures and Societies in a Changing World, to complete the following:

• Read Chapter 8, "Culture and Power," pages 165–181.

Research

Complete the following research in preparation for this unit's discussions:

• Locate credible articles from the popular press that address issues of power and members of

nondominant or diverse populations. You should try to locate materials that address positive

interactions and communication as well as negative situations. Material that offers advice on how to

handle power dynamics would also be useful. You will use this information in the Culture and Power

discussion later in this unit, in which you will assess the appropriate uses of power in multicultural

settings.

[u09d1] Unit 9 Discussion 1 

CULTURE AND POWER

Resources

Discussion Participation Scoring Guide.

Power has both positive and negative connotations. The exercise of power can affect public participation,

trust, and many other factors that affect public administration. These can either advance agendas or cause

them to fail. For this discussion, reference the articles you found in this unit's first study to post your

responses to the following questions about culture and power:

• What are the appropriate uses of power in public multicultural settings?

• What issues of written, verbal, and nonverbal communications are important to consider?

• What are the implications for you as a public servant and for the public administration field in general?