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Images Revisited – Postmodern Perceptions of Power and Democracy: Political Empowerment in the Danish Case
Author(s) -
Nørgaard Kristensen Niels
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
scandinavian political studies
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.65
H-Index - 41
eISSN - 1467-9477
pISSN - 0080-6757
DOI - 10.1111/j.0080-6757.2005.00120.x
Subject(s) - postmodernism , danish , power (physics) , perception , empowerment , politics , democracy , political science , capital (architecture) , sociology , psychology , epistemology , law , history , philosophy , linguistics , physics , archaeology , quantum mechanics , neuroscience
This article discusses postmodern perceptions of power and democracy based on a Danish study. Danes appear to have a nuanced perception of societal power and former and well known images of society seem out‐faded. Politicians, media, capital, interest organisations and experts are all experienced as powerful. Most people, however, conceptualise power as being blurred, systemic and structural. Nevertheless, the Danes generally do not feel powerless or distant from power. Paradoxically, while experiences of power as ‘system’ are common, the actors appear to be both resourceful and active – there is a high degree of empowerment. Confidence in indi‐vidual capacity to make a difference is considerable. Ordinary Danes seem to believe that it can pay to exercise one's influence – that one is able to make a difference.