Grace Blakeley explains that, in a capitalist system, power largely stems from the control of labour and resources. Those at the top — the CEOs, executives and large corporate owners — hold power because they direct the work of others and exploit labour. She emphasises that wealth and power stem from the capacity to command others’ labour, and that inequality is inherent because some people own resources while others must sell their labour to survive.
She also highlights the close relationship between the state and corporations, noting that governments often act in the interests of powerful corporate groups rather than the public. This fusion of public and private power means that power becomes concentrated in the hands of large financial and corporate interests, which then shape policies to preserve and enhance their dominance. Blakeley argues that capitalism is less about free markets and competition than it is about the organised power of elites who control both the state and the economy. She views the balance of power as a struggle between oligarchy and democracy, where the state reflects the influence of dominant social forces such as big business.
Essentially, Blakeley views power as being exercised through economic control, political influence and the domination of labour. Changing this requires the building of collective power among ordinary people..
