The structures of power is the title of Sabino Cassese’s book, published in 2024. In the text, the author analyzes the power structures in contemporary society, their plurality and the different forms. When we talk about power structures, the distinction between visible and invisible is necessary and inevitable. The first are in fact the official institutions that act for society in transparency with it. Invisible structures are those that can influence a society without manifesting themselves clearly to it, such as cultural or media influences. Many example may help to analyze the presence of different forms of power. Visible power is democracy, institutions and the president. However, there are also invisible structures which exercise high power over society. Industrial conglomerates are an invisible structure that controls a number of sectors from economics to politics to finance and their power over the economy affects GDP and employment. Another consequence of this invisible power is the lobbying pressure on politics. Other invisible structures are religious groups that have a considerable influence, although not always visible on politics and society. These groups can play a role in the creation of laws and regulations of society. Is it possible to draw a line between visible and invisible power structures? How has globalization affected the relationship between the two structures and how will it affect in the future?
