compare how authors have examined power structures in their work

power of guardians over the students at Hailsham

classic books-like the
Sherlock Holmes ones-weren't in our library because the main characters
smoked too much, and when you came across a page torn out of an
illustrated book or magazine, this was because there'd been a picture on it of
someone smoking.

sensorship

Guardians controlled by invisible governmental force;

You were brought into this world for a purpose, and your futures, all of them, have been decided... You'll be leaving
Hailsham before long...it's not so far off, the day you'll be preparing for your first donations.

Our little movement, we were always too fragile, always too dependent on the whims of our supporters. So long as the climate was in our favour, so long as a corporation or a politician could see a benefit in supporting us, then we were able to keep afloat. But it had always been a struggle, and after Morningdale, after the climate changed, we had no chance. The world didn't want to be reminded how the donation programme really worked. They didn't want to think about you students, or about the conditions you were brought up in. In other words, my dears, they wanted you back in the shadows

within the clone community – hierarchy

she set about
changing how they did things in front of people. And there was in particular
this one gesture Ruth picked up from the veterans.

Veterans are seen as influential characters simply due

Martian over human

Forthwith flashes of actual flame, a bright glare leaping from one to another, sprang from the scattered group of men. It was as if some invisible jet impinged upon them and flashed into white flame. It was as if each man were suddenly and momentarily turned to fire.

Hypothetical power structure as proposed by Artilleryman – Darwinian based society

And we form a band--able-bodied, clean-minded men. We're not going to pick up any rubbish that drifts in. Weaklings go out again

Rich over poor/educated over less – class hierarchy

"I say!" said Ogilvy; "help keep these idiots back. We don't know what's in the confounded thing, you know!"