Theory of the Reality of Power

The theory that reality itself is shaped by power—that what counts as real, what counts as true, what counts as possible is determined by those who hold power. The Theory of the Reality of Power argues that power doesn't just control resources or institutions; it controls the very terms of reality. Those who have power define what can be said, what can be thought, what can be known. They determine which facts matter, which truths are recognized, which realities are real. This is not conspiracy; it's structure. Power shapes reality not by lying but by defining the terms on which truth is told. The Theory of the Reality of Power is the recognition that reality has a politics.

Example: "He used to think reality was just reality—given, fixed, neutral. The Theory of the Reality of Power showed him otherwise: those with power decided what counted as real. Their version was taught in schools, repeated in media, enforced by law. Other realities existed, but they were marginalized, suppressed, erased. Reality wasn't neutral; it was political. He started asking who got to define what's real—and who paid the price."

by Abzugal February 21, 2026

Theory of the Power of Reality

The theory that reality itself is shaped by power—that what counts as real, what counts as true, what counts as possible is determined by those who hold power. The Theory of the Power of Reality argues that power doesn't just control resources or institutions; it controls the very terms of existence. The powerful define what can be said, what can be thought, what can be known. They shape reality not by lying but by defining the frameworks within which truth is told. This theory is the foundation of critical realism, of the recognition that reality has a politics, that truth is never neutral.

Theory of the Power of Reality Example: "He used to think reality was just reality—given, fixed, neutral. The Theory of the Power of Reality showed him otherwise: those with power decided what was real. Their version was taught, repeated, enforced. Other realities existed, but they were suppressed. He started asking who got to define reality—and who paid the price."

by Abzugal February 21, 2026

Theory of the Efficiency of Power

The theory that power determines what counts as efficient—that those with power define efficiency in ways that serve their interests, and that these definitions then shape reality. The Theory of the Efficiency of Power argues that efficiency is not discovered but decreed: the powerful decide what measures matter, what outcomes count, what costs are relevant. Their efficiency becomes the efficiency, their standards become the standards. The theory is the recognition that efficiency has a politics, that power shapes not just who benefits from efficiency but what efficiency means. It's the foundation of critical efficiency studies, of the insistence on asking "efficient for whom?" before accepting any efficiency claim.

Example: "The powerful called the policy 'efficient.' The powerless called it destruction. The Theory of the Efficiency of Power explained why the powerful's definition prevailed: they had power to define the terms. Their efficiency was the only one that counted, because they counted it. He stopped asking 'is it efficient?' and started asking 'who has power to define efficiency?' The answer explained everything."

by Abzugal February 21, 2026

Spaces of Power of Knowledge

The specific locations—institutional, geographical, social—where knowledge is validated, certified, and authorized to count as "real." The university lecture hall. The peer-reviewed journal. The TEDx stage. The expert witness stand. These spaces aren't neutral containers; they're active filters that shape what can be said, who can say it, and how it must be formatted to be heard. Knowledge that originates outside these spaces must translate itself, often awkwardly, to gain admission. The Spaces of Power determine not just what we know, but what we're allowed to call knowing.

Spaces of Power of Knowledge "She's been studying local water patterns for forty years, but without a PhD, her knowledge doesn't count in the Spaces of Power. So the town council listens to the consultant who flew in yesterday instead."

by Abzugal Nammugal Enkigal February 22, 2026

Theory of Spaces of Power of Knowledge

A critical framework for understanding that knowledge doesn't float free—it's always situated in physical and social spaces that shape its production, validation, and circulation. This theory asks: Who gets to sit in the rooms where knowledge is made? Whose voices are amplified by the architecture, the technology, the funding streams? What kinds of knowledge are architecturally impossible in these spaces? It reveals that the university seminar room, the corporate think tank, and the community center produce different truths not because they're looking at different realities, but because the spaces themselves are different knowledge-making machines.

Theory of Spaces of Power of Knowledge "Apply the Theory of Spaces of Power of Knowledge to your literature seminar: why are we reading these authors in this room, with this furniture, in this language, at this time of day? Every answer reveals another layer of whose knowledge gets to be here."

by Abzugal Nammugal Enkigal February 22, 2026

Social Power of Knowledge

The recognition that knowledge isn't just information—it's a form of social power that can confer status, justify authority, or maintain hierarchy. To be known as someone who knows—to have your knowledge socially recognized—is to wield influence regardless of the content of your knowledge. The social power of knowledge explains why credentials matter even when the credential-holder is incompetent, why expertise is often performative, and why challenging established knowledge is always also a social struggle, not just an intellectual one.

Social Power of Knowledge "He didn't actually understand the data, but he had the right degree and the right confidence, so everyone believed him. That's the Social Power of Knowledge: looking like you know is often more powerful than knowing."

by Abzugal Nammugal Enkigal February 22, 2026

Theory of the Social Power of Knowledge

A systematic account of how knowledge functions as a social resource, distributed unevenly and hoarded strategically. This theory examines how institutions credentialize some knowers and disqualify others, how knowledge communities form and police their boundaries, how epistemic authority translates into material advantage. It reveals that the "marketplace of ideas" is never a level playing field—some ideas arrive with trust funds, others show up in hand-me-downs. Understanding this theory means understanding that every claim to knowledge is also a claim to power.

Theory of the Social Power of Knowledge "The Theory of the Social Power of Knowledge explains why your uncle's YouTube research doesn't carry the same weight as a doctor's opinion, even when they're saying the same thing. It's not about the information—it's about the social position of the informer."

by Abzugal Nammugal Enkigal February 22, 2026