Power and Agency in the Local Domain: A Reflection on the Debates and Pointers for Research

ABSTRACT

In power studies the core issue remains who is to blame for the outcomes of power. The assigning of agency in power has been debated extensively in relation to the local domain, with many viewpoints argued in the literature. Out of this tangle of opinions, what direction should be taken for research in this area? This article attempts an answer by presenting the core theories and reflecting on their contribution to understanding the relationship between power and agency, illustrated by brief reference to a local example. The development of the debate reveals how agency can no longer be ascribed only to individuals, groupings, structures and processes, and that deeper levels of agency need to be probed. This raises the issue of how agency must be approached in research on power at the local level. The paper offers a set of pointers to assist researchers in freeing power studies from criticism of predetermination, and to give direction as they examine agency at this level.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).