POWER AND DEVELOPMENTS
Great power: a state that wields significant global influence militarily and economically through leading
roles in IGOs. Forward foreign policy and influential
Superpower: a state that possesses all the characteristics of a great power, but will be able to make its
influence felt anywhere in the world through advanced nuclear and cyber technology. Diplomacy and
influence over its allies which share ideological beliefs.
Emerging power: a state that has started to acquire great power status but has not yet met all the
criteria to become one. Becoming rapidly powerful in certain areas and will be likely to have significant
level of regional influence while other areas are still developing.
Intro:
First inauguration of trump: ' together, we will make America great again' - realist
Different types of global power:
Realists suggest nation-states exist in a global 'self-help' system environment. Focus on survival in an
anarchic world order is required for survival. Need to accumulate more power.
'billiard ball model' - states are constantly colliding with each other as they seek to protect their own
interests – conflict is inevitable
Liberals suggest power in the international system is interconnected, especially with the advance of
globalisation.
'cobweb model' states are closely intertwined.
A states strength can be measured based on several fundamental capabilities:
• Economic power: measured in GDP, but may also include factors such as trade balanced, levels of
debt, stability of economic growth, influence over trade rules and contributions to international
programmes and organisations, including NGOs, international aid, and research development. =
America
• Military power: includes size of a nations standing army and global reach – a state's ability to deploy
anywhere at any time. = China
, • Cultural power: a state's global cultural outreach, such as through television, film, food, fashion,
celebrities, and brand names. Argued the world is becoming more homogenised, while others argue
it is a 'melting pot' = south Korea
• Diplomatic power: elements of structural power, the reach of its foreign policy, the global
impression a state makes, together with its ability to utilise its influential powers = Norway
• Population power: large population can give significant power and influence = India
• Structural power: a state's capacity to influence IGOs such as the UN, Bretton woods institutions,
AIIB, and G7/20. = UK
• Regional power: Sphere of influence: control of their specialty, influence over a state's respective
regions. = Brazil
• R&D power: (research and development) AI R&D, how much a state spends on this. Serves as a
status symbol and can provide a state with strategic advantage. = Japan
• Natural resource power: states that are rich with resources can possess bargaining power.
Particularly harder to sanction due to reliance and may be able to act independently. = Saudi Arabia
Hard and soft power
Hard power; a state's military and economic power, can involve threats and coercion
Soft power; a state's diplomatic or cultural power, can involve persuasion and attraction.
JOSEPH NYE: liberal theorist = smart power
Refers to a state using both hard and soft power methodology to achieve its aims. Eg, president
Obama's administration; 2009 Cairo speech, focused in on benefits of Islamic culture and emphasised
cooperation and co-existence with Islamic world. Post war on terror, Afghanistan & Iraq
~ received very well.
During his first few terms he demonstrated willingness to use hard power where necessary. Within Cairo
speech, he emphasised the US would not tolerate extremist threats to its national security.
What type of power is the most effective in international politics?
Hard Soft
Without a strong military power, states do not have capacity to Antagonistic behaviour can only
defend themselves, or to use this as a threat. get states so far without isolating
themselves. Most powerful =
strong alliances
Economic power is essential to be taken seriously on a global scale Soft power enables states to be
and to be influential in punishing other states more influential in the long term,
Great power: a state that wields significant global influence militarily and economically through leading
roles in IGOs. Forward foreign policy and influential
Superpower: a state that possesses all the characteristics of a great power, but will be able to make its
influence felt anywhere in the world through advanced nuclear and cyber technology. Diplomacy and
influence over its allies which share ideological beliefs.
Emerging power: a state that has started to acquire great power status but has not yet met all the
criteria to become one. Becoming rapidly powerful in certain areas and will be likely to have significant
level of regional influence while other areas are still developing.
Intro:
First inauguration of trump: ' together, we will make America great again' - realist
Different types of global power:
Realists suggest nation-states exist in a global 'self-help' system environment. Focus on survival in an
anarchic world order is required for survival. Need to accumulate more power.
'billiard ball model' - states are constantly colliding with each other as they seek to protect their own
interests – conflict is inevitable
Liberals suggest power in the international system is interconnected, especially with the advance of
globalisation.
'cobweb model' states are closely intertwined.
A states strength can be measured based on several fundamental capabilities:
• Economic power: measured in GDP, but may also include factors such as trade balanced, levels of
debt, stability of economic growth, influence over trade rules and contributions to international
programmes and organisations, including NGOs, international aid, and research development. =
America
• Military power: includes size of a nations standing army and global reach – a state's ability to deploy
anywhere at any time. = China
, • Cultural power: a state's global cultural outreach, such as through television, film, food, fashion,
celebrities, and brand names. Argued the world is becoming more homogenised, while others argue
it is a 'melting pot' = south Korea
• Diplomatic power: elements of structural power, the reach of its foreign policy, the global
impression a state makes, together with its ability to utilise its influential powers = Norway
• Population power: large population can give significant power and influence = India
• Structural power: a state's capacity to influence IGOs such as the UN, Bretton woods institutions,
AIIB, and G7/20. = UK
• Regional power: Sphere of influence: control of their specialty, influence over a state's respective
regions. = Brazil
• R&D power: (research and development) AI R&D, how much a state spends on this. Serves as a
status symbol and can provide a state with strategic advantage. = Japan
• Natural resource power: states that are rich with resources can possess bargaining power.
Particularly harder to sanction due to reliance and may be able to act independently. = Saudi Arabia
Hard and soft power
Hard power; a state's military and economic power, can involve threats and coercion
Soft power; a state's diplomatic or cultural power, can involve persuasion and attraction.
JOSEPH NYE: liberal theorist = smart power
Refers to a state using both hard and soft power methodology to achieve its aims. Eg, president
Obama's administration; 2009 Cairo speech, focused in on benefits of Islamic culture and emphasised
cooperation and co-existence with Islamic world. Post war on terror, Afghanistan & Iraq
~ received very well.
During his first few terms he demonstrated willingness to use hard power where necessary. Within Cairo
speech, he emphasised the US would not tolerate extremist threats to its national security.
What type of power is the most effective in international politics?
Hard Soft
Without a strong military power, states do not have capacity to Antagonistic behaviour can only
defend themselves, or to use this as a threat. get states so far without isolating
themselves. Most powerful =
strong alliances
Economic power is essential to be taken seriously on a global scale Soft power enables states to be
and to be influential in punishing other states more influential in the long term,
