Definition:
Power imbalance is a condition in which one party holds significantly greater capacity to influence outcomes, define rules, or impose consequences than another.
Usage Context:
Seen in employment relations, institutional processes, platform governance, legal systems, and interpersonal dynamics.
Critical Note:
Power imbalance shapes what choices are available and which risks are bearable. When treated as neutral or inevitable, imbalance allows coercion to operate without appearing coercive.
Related Terms:
Behavioural Governance, Administrative Violence, Default Advantage, Burden Reversal, Inequality