POWER

Defining power
Ability to get another actor to do what it
would not otherwise have done. A variation
on this idea is that they affect others more
than others affect them.
Power explains influence, influence measures
power.
Capabilities size, income level, armed forces.
The best single indicator of a states power
may be its total GDP.
A states tangible capabilities represents
material power.
Soft Power.
Power of ideas.
Relative Power Ratio of the power that two
states can bring to bear against each other.
Estimation of power
Total GDP total size of each nations
economy.
With a healthy economy, a state can buy a
large army, popular support and even allies.
Eg. US invasion of Iraq in 2003
Elements of Power
State power is a mix of
Natural resources
Industrial capacity
Moral legitimacy
Military preparedness
Popular support
Long term Elements
Tangible
GDP
Population
Territory
Geography
Natural resources
Less tangible
Political culture
Patriotism
Education of the
population
Strength of the scientific
and technological base



Short term elements
Size, composition and preparedness of
military
Military industrial capacity
Quality of states bureaucracy
Support and legitimacy
loyalty

Fungible
The extent that one element of power can be
converted into another.
The international system exists in a state of
anarchy.
Sovereignty - govt. has the right, in principle,
to do whatever it wants in its own territory.
Security dillema

Balance of power
One or more states power being used to
balance that of another state or group of
states.
Alliances play a big role in balancing power.

Bandwagoning
Small states jump on the bandwagon of the
most powerful states opposed to balancing.
The great powers
States that can be defeated by another great
power.
They have worlds strongest military forces and
strongest economies to pay for military forces
and power capabilities.
Large economies based on
Large populations
Plentiful natural resources
Advanced technology
Educated labor force
The current great powers
United States
China
Russia
Japan
Germany
France
Britain
Middle powers
Below great powers in terms of capabilities
Have regional dominance
Large but not highly industrialized
Specialized capabilities but small.

The two World Wars