Power relation, as conceptualized by Vanessa Andreotti, refers to the dynamic and often asymmetrical interactions between individuals or groups, where one's ability to influence, control, or direct the behavior, decisions, and opportunities of others is unequally distributed. This concept acknowledges both visible structures, such as institutions and policies, and invisible mechanisms, like cultural norms and internalized biases, that perpetuate such imbalances. Within this framework, power is not only manifested through overt authority but also through subtler forms of dominance and subordination embedded in societal systems and practices. Recognizing power relations involves a critical examination of privilege, marginalization, and the ways in which histories of oppression and resistance shape contemporary social contexts and individual experiences.

See also: white supremacy, relational justice, systemic violence, indigenous people, global south