An oligarchy employs torture, and murder by roving hit squads. One country invades another. In a sense, physical force is easy to identify, and easy to understand. But social control by physical force rarely occurs spontaneously. In these cases, physical force is an expression of institutional control.
Institutional control encompasses both coercion and consent.
All of us submit to institutional control, and in many cases do so willingly. We give up a range of freedoms in exchange for the membership, services and security those institutions provide. We abide by the rules of the local sports club in order to use the club s facilities. We run with a gang in return for a sense of belonging. We meet the requirements of our employment in return for a wage or a salary.