A model of society as composed of distinct, overlapping domains—economic, political, military, ideological, technological—each with its own logic, elite, and resources. Power is not monolithic but flows through these spheres, which can cooperate, compete, or remain autonomous. A capitalist corporation (economic sphere) and a democratic legislature (political sphere) operate by different rules, yet their interaction shapes policy. The theory maps how actors translate power from one sphere to another: wealth buys political influence, political power grants economic privileges, military strength underwrites economic expansion.
Spheres of Power Theory Example: A tech billionaire uses economic sphere wealth to fund a super-PAC, influencing elections (political sphere), which appoints regulators sympathetic to his industry. His foundation funds university research (ideological sphere) that produces favorable studies on automation. His news network (media sphere) frames his antitrust battles as attacks on innovation. Spheres of Power Theory tracks this currency exchange of influence across different institutional domains.
by Dumu The Void February 11, 2026
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