Power in the Asia Pacific region Flashcards
ALLIANCE
An agreement between two or more international actors to collaborate together, often on perceived mutual security issues. Can be formalised through treaties or work on informal arrangements.
POWER
The ability of one global actor to influence the actions of another global actor. Power can be exercised in a range of types and forms.
ONE DIMENSIONAL VIEW OF POWER
Use of force (usually military) by A to make B do something they would not do otherwise. Clear relationship between use of power and outcome. Criticised as too basic of a concept, not taking into account the intricacies of how power can be wielded. If mere military force equalled power, China, with the largest standing army in the world, would be the most powerful state.
TWO DIMENSIONAL VIEW OF POWER
A makes a decision that forces B to take an action; power stems from those that control the knowledge, and if we have no choice and decision is made for us, we are powerless. If US were to declare war against China, AU involvement would be expected due to ANZUS- effectively, AU’s decision making process would be taken away.
THREE DIMENSIONAL VIEW OF POWER
Subtle ways to set agenda; norms and values are legitimised within society, creating a status quo. Things that do not fit into the status quo are not legitimised and so are pressured not to exist.
Thus power encompasses things that cannot be seen, things that decide the nature of a states choice such as when a decision is made, who decides how a decision is made, and who decides that a decision on that issue can be made, and what decisions are not able to be made.
HARD POWER
Coercion/threatened acts of coercion, and promise of rewards Blunt, tangible.
SOFT POWER
Shaping actions through shaping preferences, attracting and leading through culture, history, political values and foreign policies.
Subtle and intangible.
MILITARY POWER
Use or threatened use of force. Can also be used to quantify a states strength in relation to security. Comes from military capacity a state has, which depends on size of defence force, amount of money spent on military, type and calibre of the weapons, the number of servicemen and women, their commitment, morale and training and the relationship between the military and the state. Can be used through carrying out military exercises, advertising improvements to capacity and capability, or testing of military arsenal. Alone, does not allow state to achieve objectives in any given situation.
ECONOMIC POWER
The ability to use financial incentive or penalties to influence actions. Can also be used to quantify economic strength. Can be split into trade and aid. Power from monetary means, comes from economic strength- size and success of economy. Can be indicated from gross domestic product (total value of all goods and services produced annually), or GDP per capita (indicates how GDP is spread across a state), or from how self sufficient a state is in essential raw materials- if other states are dependent on what a state supplies, the economic power of that state is advanced. Economically strong states are in a better position to use the various economic instruments of foreign policy such as tariffs, supplying loans, foreign aid and sanctions.
GEOGRAPHIC POWER
Size can deter invaders, and states that are well located in defensive terms have power enhanced and the opposite applies to states caught between powerful neighbours. States close to sea lanes or trade routes may have enhanced power but also may attract unwanted attention.
POPULATION POWER
Population can be related to economic strength, and presence of separatist groups. A large population can suggest great potential for a state to wield power.
POLITICAL POWER
Ability of a state to use internal mechanisms such as judiciaries, laws and propaganda to pursue it’s objectives. A domestic function Power that comes from the internal political machinery including nature of political system, legislature and judiciary. If support exists for a state’s political leadership this gives the state legitimacy. Recognition of the sovereignty of a state is a huge political power asset. Democracies have greater legitimacy than those in power due to a military coup or in absence of free/fair elections. However democracies are not always efficient due to partisan policy alliances- one party systems such as in China allow more decisive actions. For example, in AU it took 4 years for the carbon tax to become law, and it was then repealed in 2014.
DIPLOMATIC POWER
Ability to influence the actions of other global actors through international relationships, reason and negotiation. Power accrues to states through their relationships with others in the form of alliances or alignments.
CULTURAL POWER
The ability of a state to use distinct features of that state to enhance their international reputation and influence actions of other global actors. States with a desirable and transportable culture can use their values to achieve ends through which political and military means may fail, due to the creation of a receptive audience for a state’s aims. This holds true even more in a globalised world in which transformations in communication technology have facilitated states in the transmission of these values. Winning ‘hearts and minds’.
Australia military power
.Contributed 2,000 troops to the US led invasion of Iraq in 2003. For regional relationships and national security- enhancing alliance with US and removing threat of Hussein.
