Power and developments Flashcards
Power definition
The capacity to direct or influence the course of international events, as well as other states and actors. This can be through military, cultural, economic or structural power within IGOs.
2
State capabilities - ‘Population’
- A large one can give a state power and influence - may be preoccupied with social and economic problems this creates
- USA has a expanding and youthful pop, Russia has a poor fertility and low pop so in 2050 - USA will have 438M and Russia will sink to 80M
3
State capabilities - ‘Diplomatic strengths’
- This is an element of structural power and reach of foreign policy as the global impression on a state makes allows them to utilise power of influence
- EG ‘Confuscious institutes’ - chinese funded cultural schools - 2500 classrooms
- Should be prepared to provide global leadership on issues like conflict resolution, the environment, poverty
3
State capabilities - ‘Regional Power’
- Significant influence in their respective regions - can pool sov to enhance influence
- USA is dom force of Organisation of American States
- Russia is dom force of Eurasian Customs Union
State capabilities -‘Economic capability’
- Often measured in GDP, but can be seen through balance of trade, stability of econ growth and influence over NGOs and R&D
3
State capabilities - ‘Structural power’
- Capacity to influence IGOs
- China financially dominates the AIIB - Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank
- USA provides largest share of funds for World Banks and IMF
2
State capabilities - ‘Natural resources’
- Possesses barganing power - hard to sanction due to other states’ reliance - can be independent
- ‘Resource curse’ - encourages powerful states to try and economically dominate poorer countries, leading them to a state of ‘neocolonial dependency’
2
State capabilities - ‘Military strength’
- Size of nation’s standing army - they have global reach as this is the ability for a state to deploy anywhere or anytime
- Includes naval strength, air, tech capabilities
3
State capabilities - ‘Cultural appeal’
- Global outreach - controverisial complex, hard to measure
- Through TV, film, food
- Some argue the world is increasingly homogenised, whilst others argue it is a ‘melting pot’
State capabilities - ‘Research and Development’
The amount a state spends - it is a status symbol and strategic advantage, especially with new technology
4
Soft power definition and examples
This operates largely through culture, political ideals and foreign policies. It rests on the ability to shape the preferences of others by attraction rather than coercion - takes a while to cultivate and use effectively
EG Trade agreements, ‘special relationships’, structural power, cyber power
Reagan - ‘shining city on a hill’
Nye - ‘having a smile can be a soft power resource’
Hard power definition and examples
This includes both military power and economic power. It is known as ‘command power’ - the ability to change what others do through the use of inducements or threats
EG Sanctions and econ reprocussions, compel or coerce through military threat for peacekeeping
Smart power definition and examples
This is the idea of soft power backed up by the possible use of hard power - it has become increasingly popular recently, particularily in the USA under Obama
Reagan’s use of soft power
As the Soviet Union began to reform under Gorbachev, Reagan enjoyed contrasting the economic hardship and lack of freedom under communism with the ‘American Dream’
3
Trump’s use of hard power
- Less concerned with how the world views the USA
- Fox News, Bill O Reilley pointed out to Trump that Putin had people killed, he responded ‘What do you think? Our country’s so innocent?’
- Unwilling to put USA on a global pedestal for the rest of the world - refreshing candour
3
Theoretical links for hard power
(realist)
- ‘Carrot and sticks’
- By far the dominant power and is the most significant in determining state strength
- Crucial in an anarchic system in which every state is competing and conflict is inevitable
2
Examples of hard power
- Russia invasion of Crimea 2014, challenge to Ukraine sov
- April 2017 Trump launched S9 Tomahawk cruise missiles against the Assad regime to deter further chemical attacks
Theoretical links for soft power
(liberal)
- The way in which a nation state achieves influence through persuasion is increasingly important in an increasingly globalised world - common feature
Used multilaterally and can promote stability
3
Examples of soft power
- Formation of BRICS - bolsters diplomatic influence
- Americanisation
- Germany in 2015/16 takes in large numbers of refugees
Theoretical links for smart power
- Liberal/softer realist
- Both see the merits of using soft power to reinforce hard power
- Joseph Nye coined this term
2
Examples for smart power
- Obama Administration approach to the Middle East using soft power (Cairo Speech) with hard power (drone strikes)
- UN - offers large amounts of aid and humanitarian relief but also enforces sanctions and military intervention in certain instances
Iran and the Iranian Nuclear Deal 2015
- Economic sanctions were first imposed on Iran after the seizure of the US Iranian embassy in Tehran in 1979
- Under Obama, sanctions were lifted in a controversial deal that opened the country up to foreign investment - agreed to limit sensitive nuclear activities
- Smart power
