Power and Discontent

In this provocative book, Professor Gamson presents the theory that both the benign and the threatening emphases among students of power concern a single relationship between authorities and potential partisans. Thus, these two perspectives on power and discontent are viewed as 1) that which takes the vantage point of partisans and emphasizes the process by which such groups attempt to influence the choices of authorities or the structure within which decisions occur; and 2) that of the authorities as concerned with the power of the system as a whole and regards discontent as a problem of conflict. The concept of political trust is explored as a means of linking the two themes. Also significant are the hypotheses offered on when groups will attempt influence, what methods they will use, and the kind of social control authorities will use to deal with them.