Концептуальный анализ власти и «лингвистические аргументы»

PolitBook. 2016. № 2. С. 26–39.

Ledyaev V. G.

Basic meanings of "power" and "vlast” (power in Russian) have been discussed in the context of conceptualizing power as a social concept. On the basis of the etymology and evolution of meanings of the two words their common semantic elements and differences have been identified. Meanings of the two words congruent to the dispositional conception of power (power as potential, ability) and accept “power over” and “power to” interpretations but does not support “power with” interpretation. “Power to” is more common in the English usage of “power” while “power over” is the major meaning of “vlast” in Russian. Certain differences in the configuration of meanings of the words "power" and "vlast" complicate the academic discourse and conceptual discussions but do not provide grounds to consider "power" and "vlast" as two different concepts. “Linguistic” arguments are not decisive for justifying defining properties of “power”; the choice of particular interpretations of power depends on the philosophical, methodological, theoretical, political, ideological preferences of researchers and different situational circumstances.

Keywords: власть, semantics, семантика, концептуальный анализ, power, conceptual analysis