Interests at strife, control mechanism and conflicts: the power scheme within health organizations

Abstract

The category power bears a truly strong explanatory force in the study of organizations in general, and health organizations in particular. Power and its “correlatives” — conflicts, control, interests — have been the theme for some authors within the field of organization theory, namely by means of the works of Weber, Foucault, Parsons, and Arendt, among others. These authors’ formulations, when read in a comparative manner, can contribute to the configuration of a certain analytical field, built on the contrast and dialog between their works. A more careful definition of conflict, as well as a deeper understanding of the antagonistic interests, based on those four “theoretical matrices”, can provide orientation and qualify investigations on the dynamics of public health organizational life, especially on the mechanisms of coordination and management of health organizations.