Transcript Jim Orford
Power, Powerlessness and Addiction Jim Orford University of Birmingham Presented at the Annual Conference of the New Directions in the Study of Alcohol Group, Birmingham, April 26th 2013 Power, Powerlessness and Addiction Addiction reduces autonomy Family interests compromised Power on the supply side Powerless have less resistance Expert power to help The Principal Forms of Power Power over others Power for others Force Reward Legitimate Persuasion Punishment Expert Manipulation Personal The Four Faces of Power (Lukes 2005) • Overt power – control by powerful others • Agenda power – control by keeping things off the agenda • Ideological power – we accept things as they are • Self-disciplinary or ‘under the skin’ power – we control ourselves Caitlin Thomas NN CAITLIN d DYLAN Caitlin and Her Biographers d DYLAN NN CAITLIN sympathetic f Tremlett unsympathetic Ferris From Caitlin’s Poem Self Portrait Is this me, This carping crock … Can this tame nag Be hagridden me? Dylan, Caitlin and John Malcolm Brinnin NN CAITLIN d DYLAN Brinnin Dylan, Caitlin and John Malcolm Brinnin NN CAITLIN d DYLAN Brinnin Dylan, Caitlin and John Malcolm Brinnin NN CAITLIN d DYLAN Nashold & Tremlett Brinnin hostile Sara and Samuel Taylor Coleridge Molly Lefebure, The Bondage of Love SARA STC Sara, STC and the Wordsworths SARA DOROTHY STC WILLIAM … and Other Friends POOLE SARA SOUTHEY STC Doctor GILLMAN DOROTHY WILLIAM Some Useful Theories • Social dominance theory (SDT) – hierarchy-enhancing myths • System justification theory • Post-colonial theory – the ‘mark of oppression’, the ‘scars of bondage’ • Capability theory Why are Subordinates Compliant rather than Continuously Rebellious? (Tilly 1991; Lukes 2005) • Force and inertia hold them in place • They lack the means for resistance and rebellion which are costly • They get something in return for their compliance e.g. esteem, identity • Because of mystification, repression or lack of alternative ideology, they remain unaware of their true interests • The premise is incorrect: they rebel continuously but in covert ways Affected Family Members: A Group with No Voice • • • • • • • • Difficult to identify Not associated with any one priority health problem Do not create a problem of public disorder Have no collective voice or identity Have no name Neglected Often blamed Feel ashamed EXAMPLES OF COLLECTIVE ACTION BY AFFECTED FAMILY MEMBERS • Mothers against drunk driving: a national campaign in the USA • Voice of Southmead: a local community project in Bristol, England • Grog War: Campaign for grog-free days in Tennant Creek, Northern Territory, Australia • Family Support Network: Network of Family Support Groups, Ireland