Power theory in politics discusses who has the power to create political change. There are multiple theories of power, including Marxist theories, which argue that economic power translates directly into political power. The Marxist theories include the instrumental model, where those with wealth can directly influence politics, the arbiter model, where the working class has some power despite the interests of the wealthy classes, and the functionalist model, where the state and political institutions serve the economic interests of the wealthy class. The document uses these Marxist theories to analyze how Rupert Murdoch's media empire wields political power through biased news coverage in favor of issues supporting Murdoch's economic interests.

1. Power theories in Politics
Power theory in politics is used to discuss who has the power to make change in
governments. It is important to understand who has this power because it can
determine what issues are addressed by political representatives. There are
multiple theories that define what power theories represent in politics; one such
example is the Marxist theory. The Marxist theory of power holds economic
power as the ultimate method of enforcing political power (Nash, 2010, p 5).
Marxist theories span across three models of understanding power at state level;
the instrumental model, the arbiter model and the functionalist model (Nash,
2010, p 5).

2. The Instrumental Model
Firstly, the instrumental model was stated by Nash to be a way in which “economic
power is quite simply translated into political power” (Nash, 2010, p 5), meaning
that those with money and thusly the power, can make political changes, and do
so in despite of class inequality.

3. The Arbiter Model
Secondly, the arbiter model is stated by Nash to have “relative autonomy from
the interests of the bourgeoisie” (Nash, 2010, p 5), meaning that working class
people have power to change their conditions even though it is not in the
interest of the ‘upper’ classes. However because Marx believed that the
economy is intrinsically tied to political power the interests that are said to be
‘autonomous’ from the bourgeoisie are in fact in their financial favour.

4. The Functionalist model
Thirdly, the functionalist model, Nash wrote that “the state is but an
epiphenomenon of the economic logic of the capitalist system which reproduces
itself in every social and political institution to the advantage of the dominant
economic class” (Nash, 2010, p 5). In other words, political power is subordinate
to the power of economic importance in a capitalist system suggesting that in all
state institutions the decisions and issues that are addressed link directly to
increasing economic strength and growth of the bourgeoisie. Marxist theories of
power revolve around the single understanding that political power and
economic power are one in the same, arguably the latter form of power being
the most important.

5. How power can be misused
In Australia it is assumed that political
power is held by the Prime Minister and
other political officials, however in the
most recent elections the control of
political power has shifted to the media, in
particularly Rupert Murdoch and the
Murdoch media empire. [Video] The
newspapers in question are said to be
biased in their choices of what articles are
written about the election candidates. The
Marxist theories of power are applicable
to this issue in the video because the issue
is a political one that includes the use of
economic power for political power.
Because newspapers are written by
working class people but owned by
wealthy business men, it is evidentiary
that the material that is published would
be in the favour of the company and not in
the favour of journalistic integrity.
*GetUp! Australia (2013, August 27). Thanks Rupert
Murdoch, but Australians can choose their own
government [Video file]. Retrieved on 28.04.14 from
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=grqp-JQMFuM

6. Summation
In relation to the Rudd vs Abbott election mentioned in the video, Rupert
Murdoch’s newspapers supported Tony Abbott and very often spoke against
the Labour party and its members despite a lack of evidence or proof of their
claims. The video, made by the activist group GetUp! Australia attempted to
increase public awareness of this misuse of power in hopes of having a fair and
unbiased election however they were faced with issues airing the add. GetUp!
Australia make reference to the power Murdoch has in the media stating in the
description that “Channel 7 refused outright on the grounds that it was
"distasteful", while Channel Ten and Channel Nine have told us directly that
they won't continue running the ad because it criticises Rupert Murdoch”.
Although the video did not hinder the sales or the readers of Murdoch’s
newspapers, the goal of the video was to show how the media had used their
economic power to alter and change the minds of their readers for its own
political agenda. Political power in this case is not in the control of the state but
in control of what Marx would call the bourgeoisie or what we would call
Rupert Murdoch.