This task links to the SQA Course Assessment Specification (CAS): Power -  Steven Lukes’ ‘three faces of power’: decision making, non-decision making and manipulating desires

Steven Lukes (2004) offers three explanations of how decisions in political settings are likely to be made. Each of these decision models emerges from three competing views of power - what power is, how it should be used, its limits, and its application in different settings.  

1. Power as open face or decision making: the ability to affect the content of public policy (what governments actually do) Access the short e-textbook on the Open Face here (also attached above as a pdf to download)
2. Power as agenda-setting: the ability to influence the issues and proposals that are discussed (what is on, or off, the political agenda) Access the short e-textbook on the agenda setting face here (also attached above as a pdf to download)
3. Power as manipulating desires: the ability to shape popular beliefs, values and ideas (what people think) Access the short e-textbook on the manipulating desires face here (also attached above as a pdf to download)

Do you think that Lukes' theory on power is relevant today? Are some faces of power more relevant than others in the 21st century? Try to give relevant examples to support your views. Please post your views in the comments below: