The Basic Forms of Existence and Tendencies of “Power-Knowledge” Development

Abstract

The subject of the study is "power-knowledge" as a universal force serving as the basis for the formation of institutionalized forms of domination, cognitive and value norms, communication channels and behavior styles. The authors prove that the dynamic unity of knowledge and power has led to rapid changes in power relations, which allowed to identify periods and specific forms of existence of power. The main stages of the evolution of "power-knowledge" are the domination of objective norms, discursive and symbolic forms of power. The research investigates the change of forms of control: consideration of domination of objective norms as a condition for efficiency (success) of actions allowed to make transition from external supervision to self-control. The emergence of the next stage of the transformation of "power-knowledge" is due to the rapid development of knowledge, the ability to store and transmit increasing amount of information. Power being realized in the organization of information and financial communication flows seeks to control the processes of development, the dynamics of social systems. The power of discourse is manifested in the fact that in the process of formation of sign-symbolic systems, methods of information transferring, the construction of reality takes place. Power internalizes a certain order exerting influence on consciousness of people through symbolic systems, language grammatical norms, styles of knowledge. The peculiarity of symbolic power is a high degree of self-determination. Power exists in the system produced by its symbols not seeking to represent the interests of social groups. Power becomes a universal, impersonal force (code, discourse) located in the stream of symbols and codes. The essential difference of symbolic power is that it is not representative and continuously alters the "world view" in which a person lives. The main conclusion of the study is that the democracy and humanity of forms of manifestation of power are associated with the ubiquity of the spread and the emergence of total forms of enslavement. The domination of objective norms is aimed at producing a certain type of person; discourse constructs reality, symbolic power acts as a self-sufficient force, in which a person is forced to continuously seek ways to survive in a transforming world.