They form parts of society, which impact on individuals' development and growth. This does not mean that these conditions cannot be changed. Societies are subject to constant change because they are generated every day through human interaction in public places, social institutions, and every social sector being part of the particular society. As much as societies can be seen as constant collective processes, they also provide boundaries for these processes in terms of institutions and organizations, and through norms and values guiding social interaction. When individuals and groups intend to bring about social change in the five activity areas of the Ottawa Charter, they will be confronted with different interests and priorities among the stakeholders in these areas.
Empowerment is the aim of social interaction in the context of public health.
The Ottawa Charter suggests that people need to gain control over their living and working conditions in order to be able to develop lifestyles conducive to health. People need to form alliances in order to gain political strength and power necessary to support their causes. Alliances are not partnerships, but political frames of cooperation within a defined time spectrum. They are strategic in nature, and they do not necessarily mean that the parties share common interests, values and beliefs other than in the particular case of the alliance. Social capital assumes that all members of the partnership have equal interests and equal access to all resources needed for this collaboration, and in addition it assumes that all players will equally benefit from the collaboration.