Power dynamics
Structural asymmetry
Structural friction differential (former name)
Physis Theory's central thesis. The asymmetry lies in friction, not in strength. At the level of reflex: the affiliative reflex works in the immediate circle and stays at its own scale, while the agonistic reflex operates independently of scale. At the institutional level: scaling the agonistic side is aligned with the decision-maker's interest and therefore meets no resistance, while scaling the balancing side constrains that same power and therefore runs into it — high friction, and constant erosion. It is not determinism: it defines the conditions of the struggle, not its outcome.
— Physis: A Theory of Power — Concept Glossary
The definition is from the Concept Glossary of Physis: A Theory of Power; the book will be published on Zenodo in October 2026. The English wording is provisional until the official English glossary is published.
| Research program | Physis |
|---|---|
| First appearance | Physis: A Theory of Power |
| Developed in | Physis: A Theory of Power — Chapter 1, §1 |