Power and Influence as a Basic Human Need and the Basic Element of the Socio-Political Structure or why Realpolitik is Effective

Examining the developed pyramid of needs by Abraham Maslow, the author comes to the conclusion that the founder of humanistic psychology did not take into account one of the basic human needs—the acquisition of power and influence. It seems that after the fulfillment of physiological needs (satisfaction of hunger and thirst, as well as satisfaction of the need for sleep and rest), a person has a need for elevation within the social hierarchy. This phenomenon is understandable, since gaining power and influence allows one to ensure security at a higher level. In addition, having the opportunity to influence other members of society fulfills such needs as belonging to a social group, recognition and respect, creative fulfillment. It is obvious that power and influence also imply the realization of aesthetic needs and the need for self-actualization. Thus, the author comes to the conclusion that at the second level of the pyramid there should be a basic need—the acquisition of power and influence. Having presented the modified pyramid, the researcher proposes to look in a new way at socio-political trends: liberalism, solidarism and statism. Having analyzed the ideas of these socio-political trends, taking into account the «pyramid of needs» built by the author, it becomes clear why these inherently different concepts, based on basic questions of the origin of power and the administration of power, cannot be applied in their «pure form» as they are described in ideologemes. As a result of the study, the conclusion about the effectiveness of «Real Politics» (Realpolitik) in the form of a state political course free from the use of any ideology and principles of socio-political teachings is substantiated.