What is power?
What is power, really? We all have a certain idea of what it means, but once you start looking closer, the concept becomes surprisingly complex. Is power something positive, something negative, or is it neutral by definition? Who holds a lot of it — and who holds very little? And what is the most powerful force in our modern world?
These are the questions I explore in this blog. Power fascinates me deeply, yet at the same time it unsettles me — mostly because of how often it is abused.
What Do We Mean by Power?
According to the dictionary, power can mean many things: capability, strength, legal authority, influence, or an institution that exercises control. For the purpose of this blog, I focus mainly on two of these meanings:
- legal authority, and
- the ability to influence events and people.
That’s where the real story begins.
The Power of Law: Separation of Powers
In our parliamentary democracy we use the separation of powers, the trias politica. It divides authority into three branches:
- the legislative (parliament),
- the executive (government), and
- the judicial (the courts).
The purpose is clear: to prevent too much power from concentrating in the hands of one person or a small group. In theory, this safeguards us against corruption and abuse of power.
Monarchy vs. Republic
The Netherlands is a constitutional monarchy. Our king is head of state, but his actual legal authority is extremely limited.
The United States, however, offers a striking contrast. It is not a monarchy but a republic with a presidential system. There, too, the separation of powers exists, yet the president has far more room to act independently. He can rule by executive order, especially when situations are declared emergencies — something American presidents have done increasingly in recent decades. This expands presidential power and can partially sideline the legislature.
It’s a delicate balance, and one that shows how fragile democratic power structures can be.
Money Equals Power — But Not Only Money
Historically, power has often belonged to those who hold wealth. And today, that’s still true. Consider the world’s billionaires who own media companies, tech platforms, or critical infrastructure. Their decisions influence what we see, what we believe, and how we communicate.
But money is not the only source of power. In today’s digital world, attention is at least as influential.
Social media has created an entire universe of influencers. With their posts, they manage public opinion, fuel hypes, and drive consumption. Many chase attention to satisfy algorithms and grow their following; others post from ideological conviction, often without earning anything at first.
But the principle is the same:
Whoever commands attention, commands influence.
And influence is power.
Power to the People
But where does real power lie? Not with billionaires, platforms, or presidents.
Real power lies with the people.
With those who don’t take everything at face value. People who think for themselves, ask questions, and rely on facts instead of pure emotion. Those who aren’t driven by FOMO or glued to social media. People who dare to speak uncomfortable truths and swim against the tide, even when it’s difficult.
When people like that come together, they form a movement stronger than any tech mogul, president, or influencer.
What Brings People Together?
The question is: what does it take to unite people on a large scale?
Does it require another pandemic? A global financial collapse? A world war?
Or can it also happen when leaders emerge with a positive, inspiring vision? Leaders who tap into people’s potential, who energize rather than intimidate, who show how society can move forward instead of backwards.
Because if we keep doing what we’ve always done, we’ll simply get more of what we already had. And slowly, our society will erode.
The Power to Change
It is time for a new voice. Time for deeper democratic engagement.
Don’t stand by helplessly while conservative forces steer our society toward stagnation or decline.
Dare to imagine something better. Choose progress. Reflect on what truly matters — for yourself, your children, and future generations. What makes life meaningful? Wealth and status, or a livable planet and a society where we care for each other?
You have more power than you think.
Change begins with a single step —
and that step can start today.