Power Is Not a Concept: A Constitutional Civic Realist Critique of Conceptual Theories of Power

This paper provides a foundational critique of the "conceptualist" tradition in political theory, which seeks to define power through linguistic and behavioral analysis (e.g., Weber, Dahl, Lukes). From the perspective of Constitutional Civic Realism (CCR), the author argues that political power is not an abstract concept waiting to be defined, but a structural byproduct of institutional architecture. By shifting the focus from the nature of power to the design of the institutions that enable it, this work offers a structural alternative for analyzing systemic imbalances and the necessity of countervailing institutions in a democracy.