Explain the Macpherson's view on power.
C.B. Macpherson offered a critical analysis of liberal democracy by linking power with human development. He argued that power is not merely the ability to dominate others but the capacity to realize one’s potential. Traditional liberal thought, according to him, restricted power to property and market relations, which marginalized large sections of society. Macpherson redefined democracy as a system that should enhance “developmental power,” meaning the collective ability of individuals to grow, participate, and contribute meaningfully. He criticized capitalist liberal democracies for promoting only “possessive individualism,” where power was concentrated in elites. His alternative vision of democracy emphasized equitable distribution of resources, participation, and recognition of social rights. Thus, for Macpherson, true democracy enlarges the scope of human power rather than limiting it.
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