C.B. Macpherson, a prominent Canadian political theorist, developed a distinctive view on power, deeply intertwined with his critique of liberal-democratic theory and his concept of 'possessive individualism.' For Macpherson, power is not merely the ability to influence or coerce, but a fundamental capacity inherent in human beings, which is shaped and constrained by the prevailing socio-economic structure, particularly capitalism.

Macpherson argued that classical liberal thought, from Hobbes and Locke to the present, is built upon the foundational assumption of 'possessive individualism.' This concept posits that:

1. The individual is the proprietor of his own person or capacities, owing nothing to society for them. This means individuals are seen as essentially self-interested, rational maximizers of their own utility.
2. Society is essentially a series of market relations between proprietors. Human relations are primarily economic and contractual.

From this possessive individualist perspective, Macpherson viewed power as:

1. Power as a Capacity: He saw power as an inherent human capacity to use and develop one's abilities. In an ideal, non-exploitative society, individuals would have the power to fully realize their human potential.
2. Power as Domination in Capitalist Society: However, in a capitalist society structured by possessive individualism, this inherent human capacity for power is distorted and transformed into a capacity for domination. The market system, with its private ownership of productive assets, creates a fundamental inequality. Those who own capital have power over those who only own their labor power. This power is not just political or legal, but economic and social.
3. The State as an Instrument of Class Power: Macpherson, drawing from a Marxist-influenced perspective, viewed the liberal-democratic state not as a neutral arbiter, but as an institution that ultimately serves to maintain and legitimize the power relations inherent in a capitalist, possessive individualist society. The state's power, therefore, is largely the power of the dominant economic class to maintain its position and protect its property.
4. Power as a Zero-Sum Game: In a society characterized by scarcity and competition (as implied by possessive individualism), power often becomes a zero-sum game. One person's gain in power comes at the expense of another's. This contrasts with a more utopian view where power could be a collective capacity for societal good.
5. Alienation of Power: Just as labor is alienated in capitalist production, Macpherson suggested that individuals' inherent power to develop themselves is alienated. They are compelled to sell their labor and, in doing so, surrender a significant part of their self-determining power to employers and the market system.

In summary, Macpherson's view of power is critical and structural. He sees power as a fundamental human capacity that, under the conditions of possessive individualism and capitalism, is transformed into a tool of domination and exploitation, primarily serving the interests of the propertied class and maintained by the liberal-democratic state. His work challenges the notion of liberal democracy as a system of equal power and freedom, arguing that economic inequalities fundamentally undermine genuine political equality and individual self-development.