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.
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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’
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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
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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
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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
Trump’s use of hard power
