Types of Power

Question 1

Power

Answer 1

The ability to influence other group in global politics and achieve outcomes. At its simplest, power is about achieving desired goals and influencing others.

Question 1

Multilateral power?

Answer 1

Through IGOs, smaller states can cooperate with other states to become more powerful than they would be alone (multilateral power)

Question 2

Collective power?

Answer 2

Members of NATO may respond collectively (collective power) to security threats by launching military action.

Question 3

Economic power

Answer 3

Political and economic unions (e.g EU) can establish a single currency zone that aims to maximize their economic power

GDP, GDP per capita, Economic growth %)
States can seek only economic power (Germany, Japan) however it is unlikely that a state will be a significant military power if it is not also a significant economic power.

States can use economic power as a form of hard power.

It’s also possible for states to develop an economic relationship that balances out each state’s economic strengths/weaknesses (i.e China depends on natural resources from Africa, Africa depends on China for FDI in infrastructure).

Question 4

Structural power?

Answer 4

the means by which states affect global politics, usually by promoting a model of politics that they favor, such as democracy or capitalism.

In recent times, Western powers have tried to remove authoritarian regimes and build up the democratic models of government (i.e regime change in Iraq, Libya, Afghanistan) through hard military power and regime change.

Question 5

Relational Power?

Answer 5

is when a state has a relationship with another state and uses this relationship to influence the other state to change its behavior; using military, economic, hard, soft power or a combination of such.
To be successful, the state will need an effective strategy, and must know the other state’s strengths/weaknesses to know what would be a convincing threat.

Question 6

Three types of relational power (Nye)?

Answer 6

1. Threats and rewards – likely to encourage the state to achieve their desired goal
2. Controlling the agenda – limiting the choices of the other state in order to achieve the desired goal
3. Establishing preferences – getting the other state to want the same goals as your state

Question 7

Social and Cultural Power?

Answer 7

globalization has given rise for some states to export their cultural resources across the world.

Global brands (e.g Simpsons, Facebook, BBC, Apple) are universally known and popular. However, it’s difficult to know whether this brand popularity has any soft power benefit for the states from which the brand originates

Thus, cultural power connects diverse populations around the world at a more human, rather than strategic, level