Power is the capacity to redirect others' Tau-flow: to determine where their time, energy, and attention are directed. Hard power (coercion) redirects through threat. Soft power (persuasion) redirects through Tau-narrative appeal. Structural power redirects through Tau-network topology.
Legitimacy is the collective acceptance of Tau-dominance as structurally necessary. Weber's three types (traditional, charismatic, rational-legal) are three modes of Tau-dominance acceptance. Legitimacy crisis is the withdrawal of this acceptance — the Tau-network no longer recognises the asymmetry as valid.
The state claims monopoly on legitimate Tau-flow redirection (Weber's monopoly on violence) within a territorial Tau-field. Taxation is mandatory Tau-flow contribution. Law is the codified Tau-flow redirection protocol. State failure is Tau-dominance monopoly collapse — competing nodes contest Tau-flow control.
Democracy is Tau-flow accountability distributed across the network: the governed retain periodic veto power over Tau-dominance through electoral Tau-flow signals. Democratic erosion is the progressive removal of Tau-accountability mechanisms — the governed lose their veto over Tau-dominance.
Propaganda is the attempt to capture the collective Tau-narrative to naturalise and maintain Tau-dominance asymmetries. By controlling what Tau-patterns are available in the collective Tau-map, Tau-dominance becomes invisible — experienced as natural order rather than contingent asymmetry.
Revolution is rapid reorganisation of Tau-network topology to redistribute Tau-flow redirection capacity. It requires Tau-dominance delegitimation, Tau-field mobilisation (collective Tau-flow synchronises behind the new topology), and Tau-narrative replacement (new legitimating collective story).