Book 3, Chapter 28
To speak of power in the socio-political sense is a broad and somewhat cloudy topic, but in the broadest sense possible, Power is the ability of one entity to get another entity to do what the first wishes. More than two thousand years ago, the Greek philosopher Euripides wrote "The Tongue Is Mightier Than The Blade" on the difference between coercive and social powers, and this distinction is important. Power can come from a number of sources, ranging from coercive power derived from force, consequences, or threats thereof, to more subtle social powers derived from culture, diplomacy, ideals, values, ideologies and other such institutions.
As the ancient philosopher noted, coercive power has its limits in comparison with more social powers; it breeds resentment and resistance, and its influence lasts only so long as the threat lasts. In contrast, social powers can be attractive and appealing. This is not to make moral judgments on either form of power and are simply categorizations of sources of socio-political power; an army liberating thralls through coercive power is unquestionably more moral than a political leader using their social power to agitate for the purging of ethnic and religious minorities.
Furthermore, while coercive power in the form of warfare is a major consideration for international relations, it should be noted that every nation that depends on coercive power for internal cohesion is fundamentally unstable, due to the transient nature of coercive power. Such nations inevitably disintegrate once the coercive power is removed or weakened and provinces kept under control by the threat of force break away. In contrast, a nation with a strong social power is more stable over time, from the presence of institutions and a coherent identity.
—Nationbuilding: How People Move, Talk, Think, Organize, & Structure Themselves, 1888, Amsterdam University Press
Tropes that appear in this chapter:
- Death by Adaptation: Eochaid mac Niall dies in 1042, twenty years before his historical death date.
- It's All About Me:
- A good description of the Empire's attitude, as reflected by Alexios Makris, who is shown making plans for the possibility of putting Sigurd and Harald on the thrones of Berk and Norway on the chance that Hiccup and Magnus's children will prove hostile towards the Empire.
- Harald is a better example. He knows Makris' plan could weaken his home, but, since he would be in charge if it works, he's very interested in seeing it work.
- Killed Offscreen: Eochaid mac Niall's death is not shown, only told about second-hand via letter.
- Not Evil, Just Misunderstood: Toiréasa continues to assume the worst of Heather's agenda, assuming that she's keeping Toiréasa up to date on events in Berk so that Toiréasa will know that her daughter is still in danger rather than recognising that Heather will never cross certain lines. She also assumes the news of Eochaid's death is a taunt about how a useful tool to her has been taken out, instead of an attempt to comfort a victim by letting them know their tormentor will never hurt them again.
