This past weekend I began to watch the Netflix series House of Cards. It is about a congressman, Francis Underwood and the inner workings of politics. Francis Underwood is a man in a very powerful position; he is the House Majority Whip. In the show he uses his power to get back at those who have betrayed him.
Power can be described as being a central theme to the show. Power can be used to produce effects on others (Pennsylvania State University, 2013). Being the House Majority Whip, Underwood is able to use his power to his advantage and manipulate many situations so he can get his way. Someone trying to exhibit power will have a rectangular table and sit at the head of the table during meetings (Pennsylvania State University, 2013). During a meeting on the reform of an education bill Underwood was seated at the head of the table. Power can be known to be a function of a leader and follower, however, Francis Underwood uses the traditional approach where power is possessed by only the leader (Pennsylvania State University, 2013).
Coercive power is used to control another person through fear of punishment or the loss of valued outcomes (Pennsylvania State University, 2013). Underwood uses coercive power on a congressman from Pennsylvania, Peter Russo. Russo is often in trouble with the law for alcohol and drug related charges. Underwood makes those charges disappear and uses that as leverage against Russo. Underwood wants Russo to deny the chance of testifying in order to keep a Naval shipyard in Philadelphia open. This pains Russo because he is from Philadelphia and those people are his friends. Underwood uses coercive power by telling Russo to make sure the ship yard gets closed or people will find out about the various charges.
Reference
Pennsylvania State University. (2013). Power and Influence. [Online lecture]. Retrieved from http://cms.psu.edu