Power And Specification

This dissertation tries to find the possible inherent linkagesbetween power and norms on the ground of the constructivist ontology.A careful review of the studies on the relationship between powerand norms shows that the relationship has not adequately studied. Thereis deeper and more inherent relationship between power and norms whichhas even not been mentioned. That is, under certain conditions, thestructure of power can make the structural characteristics and the powerwill transform into relevant norms. In order to explain this phenomenon,an analytical perspective must be set. It is a sociological perspective,by which I mean basically an intersubjective perspective or an approachto understanding power and norms.I have made several assumptions to facilitate my research. Firstly,I assume that phenomena in the international system are sociological, andtherefore they are intersubjective in nature. Intersubjective phenomenaare at the same time objective, homeostatic, and provable. Secondly, Iassume that power and norms have their inherent structures. The exteriorlinkages between power and norms are the representation of theirdeep-seated structures.According to these assumptions, I define power as the social relationsof the influencer making the influenced to obey his power willasymmetrically, and define norms as the standard of actions sharedcollectively. Through the analysis of a much discussed sociologicalphenomenon called Stockholm Syndrome, I demonstrate that the power willof the coercive power can transform itself into relevant norms and furtherchange the identity of the influenced under three conditions: 1) when thepower lasts effectively enough long;2) when the influenced could besomewhat rewarded because of their obedience;3) when the influenced arekept as separated from other ideas as much as possible. I explain in detailsthe transforming mechanism and find all kinds of power undergo similartransformation under similar conditions. The mechanism of the coercivepower transforming itself into relevant norms is, under the threeconditions, confined by the power structure, and obeying the influencerand its power will becomes the natural choice of the influenced out ofutilitarian considerations. Thus the power will of the influencer becomethe rules of action for the influenced. And, if the time lasts long enough,this kind of rules (that is, norms) will become part of the ideas sharedby the influenced gradually and thus reconstruct the identity of theinfluenced.Having given the analytical framework, I test my hypothesis in the lasttwo chapters with two cases. The method used here is case study. The firstcase is the America-Japan relationship when America occupied Japanmilitarily from 1945-1952. The second case is the Soviet-Americarelationship in the period of cold war. The test shows that the hypothesisput forward in this analysis stands well.