In today’s political and economic climate, power attracts actors while simultaneously undermining their position and judgement. Political crises, economic power shifts and the rivalry between technology giants all reveal how the exercise of power can detach from its original purpose and begin to operate on its own terms. Public debate often focuses on strategies, influence and competition, yet the deeper dynamics of power remain obscured. Power begins to direct its holder precisely at the moment when they believe they are in control. This turning point is visible both in individuals and institutions: the pursuit of position and control creates a sense of certainty, but at the same time can generate a hunger for power that grows under its own momentum. The purpose of this blog is to examine the moment when power ceases to be a tool and becomes a force that shapes thought, judgement and morality.
When power turns against its holder
Power is a pervasive phenomenon throughout human history, yet its deepest effects often remain unseen. Power is not limited to position or the ability to influence; its roots extend into the deep, archetypal structures of the human psyche. When power is used excessively or self-servingly, it no longer serves its wielder but begins to dominate them. This inner shift is essential to understand if we wish to grasp the true nature of power and its threat.
A hunger for power does not arise in a vacuum. It often stems from experiences of being powerless, unseen or vulnerable. Power appears to offer a solution: through it one can create protection, control and certainty. But here lies the paradox. The more a person builds their identity on power, the more dependent they become on it. Power begins to take on a life of its own and, at worst, slips from the individual’s control and seizes the reins. At that point the question is no longer about personal will, but about how the archetypal force of power operates through the individual.
The unconscious dynamics of power
Carl Gustav Jung described such a phenomenon as the takeover by a complex: an unconscious psychic content becomes activated and seizes the conscious mind. The individual then acts under the pressure of an inner tension and loses touch with their own capacity for reflection.
Power is deeply alluring on a collective human level, and it may become intertwined with messianic fantasies, saviour narratives or a sense of special entitlement. When a person sees themselves in an elevated position of power, they may begin to identify with an authoritarian, superego-like role, forgetting their own limits and fallibility. They no longer use power; they embody it. In this state, moral judgement becomes clouded, and the individual may justify almost anything to achieve their goals.
Over time, power begins to feed itself: it grows from fear, insecurity and the need for control, yet simultaneously generates more fear and insecurity around it. Eventually, the seeker of power no longer knows what they truly aim for—they merely want more influence, because the inner emptiness does not diminish but expands. Blinded by power, they fail to see that what they imagine themselves to be controlling is in fact controlling them.
The archetype of power is closely linked to the concept of the shadow. According to Jung, the shadow consists of those aspects of the self that a person rejects or refuses to confront. Power enables the projection of this shadow onto the external world: it creates enemies, threats and adversaries onto whom one’s own fears can be displaced. The wielder of power may then feel justified in their actions—they must “protect” or “lead”—even when the true motivation may be an unrecognised need for control.
The ethics of power begin within
There is, however, another kind of relationship to power. When power is viewed in the light of consciousness and without identification, it can be seen as a tool rather than an end in itself. A wise wielder of power recognises its seductiveness and its ability to distort perception, and engages in continuous inner self-examination. Such a relationship with power does not destroy; it builds. But it requires strong ego development and the courage to confront one’s own shadow.
Ultimately, the question of power is a question about our relationship with ourselves. We cannot understand power without understanding our own vulnerabilities. And the more we are able to face our fear, our need for control and our inner emptiness, the less power takes a form within us that begins to act independently of who we are.
This is why anyone who steps into a role that involves power—whether societal, familial or personal—faces a choice. Power can be used responsibly and consciously, or it can be allowed to grow so large that it begins to direct the person themselves.
