Power politics Flashcards
How should we assess the power of international actors?
- Military power (Morgenthau, 1948).
- Economic power (Keohane and Nye, 1977)
- Soft power (Nye, 1990)
- Composite measures (Waltz, 1979)
How can military power be seen as a factor when assessing the power of international actors
States with larger, more advanced militaries are more powerful than those with weaker militaries. (Morgenthau, 1948)
- However > (Waltz, 1979)
How can economic power be seen as a factor when assessing the power of international actors
(Keohane and Nye, 1977)
1) Attract trade, investments, and allies
2) afford economic incentives and sanctions
- However > (Garten, 1999)
How can soft power be seen as a factor when assessing the power of international actors
strong soft power > attractiveness of their culture, values, and policies > more powerful
(Nye, 1990)
- However > (Mearsheimer, 1994)
How can composite measures be seen as a factor when assessing the power of international actors
(Waltz, 1979)
range of factors, including military, economic, and soft power, > the power of international actors.
- However > (Garten, 1999)
What are the objections raised by Garten (1999) when assessing the power of international actors
A singe factor is not sufficient to determine the power of an international actor (Garten, 1999).
However, even composite measures are difficult to construct > subject to bias or subjectivity (Garten, 1999).
Morgenthau (1948)
o Military power is:
- indicator of power of an international actor
- Necessary to defend states’ interests and territory
- Enables states to exert influence over other states > threat or use of force
Waltz (1979)
o necessary > consider range of factors > including military, economic, and soft power, > power of international actors
Keohane and Nye (1977)
(Power Politics)
o Economic power
- States with strong economies > more powerful than weaker economies
- Enables states to attract investment, trade partners, and allies
- Allows states to exert influence over other states > economic incentives or sanctions
Garten (1999)
o Composite measures > difficult to construct > subject to bias or subjectivity
o Carefully define and operationalize each component of a composite measure > to ensure its validity and reliability
(Nye, 1990)
Soft power (Nye, 1990)
- strong soft power > attractiveness of their culture, values, and policies, > more powerful
- However > (Mearsheimer, 1994)
Argument that US hegemony is over
- Decline of US economic power (Ikenberry, 2011)
- Rise of non-state actors (Slaughter, 2004)
- Spread of democracy (Huntington, 1991)
Argument that US hegemony continues to exist
- US military dominance (Mearsheimer, 2001)
- (Soft power) US political and cultural influence (Nye, 2004):
- Persistence of unipolarity (Glaser, 2010)
What is meant by the decline of US economic power?
(Ikenberry, 2011)
Decline of relative economic power of the US > China (etc) emerged as major economic powers.
This decline > shift in the global balance of power.
How does the rise of non-state actors hinder US hegemony?
(Slaughter, 2004)
Non-state actors > IOs, multinational corporations, and civil society groups > important role in international politics.
shift in power away from traditional states > lead to a new global balance of power.
How does the spread of democracy hinder US hegemony?
(Huntington, 1991)
Spread of democracy > more multipolar international system > greater number of influential states.
This could lead to a new global balance of power.
How does the dominance of US military prove that its hegemony still exists?
(Mearsheimer, 2001)
The US military remains the most powerful in the world > this dominance gives the US a significant advantage in global politics.
This could continue to support US hegemony.
How does the influence of US politics and culture prove that its hegemony still exists?
(Nye, 2004)
The US > exert political and cultural influence around the world > leadership in IOs, its media, entertainment industry > soft power.
This could continue to support US hegemony.
How does the persistence of unipolarity prove that its hegemony still exists?
(Glaser, 2010)
the international system remains unipolar, with the US as the dominant power.
Ikenberry (2011)
o The US > the dominant power since end of World War II.
o The US > create a liberal world order > based on international institutions and rules.
o The rise of other powers such as China > challenge this liberal world order.
Katzenstein et al (2018)
o “protean power” > ability to adapt and shape the international system.
o The distribution of protean power among states is constantly changing.
o The global balance of power is affected by both material and ideational factors.
Define Material factors
Material factors: tangible resources that states and other actors can use to exert influence, such as military power, economic resources, and technological capabilities.
Define Ideational factors
Ideational factors: intangible resources that states and other actors can use to exert influence, such as values, beliefs, norms, and ideas
Define Power
Power: the ability to shape the behaviour and outcomes of other states and actors” (Ikenberry, 2011)
