Power
Unit 4.1: Definition and Basic Tenets of Power
Learning Outcome
• To explain the concept of Power in detail.
Power
• Conflicts among states are constant phenomenon because
tangible and intangible resources are limited and desires of
states are unlimited.
• Those states which have greater POWER are more suc-
cessful in securing their interests.
• Therefore, states seek to maximize their power to secure
their national and international interests in the world.
• There are 4 benefits of power for states. i) maintenance of autonomy,
ii) increased freedom of action, iii) greater margin of safety, and
iv) greater influence in international community.
• A/c to realist scholars, the world politics is all about power politics. On
the other hand, liberalism believe that international community can be
harmonized by developing international legal and governmental
institutions.
What is Power?
• Power in interstate relations may be defined as a state’s ability to control, or
at least influence, other states or the outcome of events.
• The capacity to determine outcomes. It is an ability to control other individ-
uals, groups, states and even environment . It uses both “sticks and car-
rots” methods.
• Force: The application of military power in order to punish or compel
applied coercion.
• It involves the use of power both explicitly and implicitly to compel or punish
others. It involves military or police force and considered as extremely vio-
lent and costly. Its extreme application is war.
What is not Power?
• Influence: the ability of an actor to alter the preferences and
behavior of another actor.
• Authority: the capacity to command obedience through
voluntary non-coercive means.
• It is absent in international politics because there is no interna-
tional govt. Authority exist in national politics while interna-
tional politics is determined by POWER.
Power
Internal
External (National
Power)
The state is able to The state is insulated
enforce compliance. from outside
influences.
• Most scholars focus on power as a means of strength or capacity that provides the
ability to influence the behavior of other actor in accordance with one’s own objec-
tive.
• But for most , power like money is an instrumental, to be used primarily for achiev-
ing or defending other goals, which could include prestige, territory or security.
• Power is historically linked with Military capacity.
• Power is described as the capacity to do something and the actual exercise of that
capacity.
• Power is often associated with technology.
• E.g: US nuclear attack in WW II.
Structure of power
Financial structure
Knowledge structure
refers to the power
refers to the power to
to restrict or facilitate
influence ideas
economy
Production structure
Security structure affects their chances of
shapes their a better life and
prospects for security producers and
consumers.
Characteristics of Power
• Power is relational. It is not a tangible resource but dimen-
sion of interpersonal, intergroup, or interstate relations.
State’s power can increase either by a rise in its own capabil-
ities or by a decline in the power of other states.
• Power is primarily a means, not an end. It is the means by
which states protect and maximize their interests in the world
system. It is a major determinant of state’s ability to protect
and expand its national interests.
• Power is based on perception. A reputation of power confers power. It
is ultimately based on what people think. In 1967 Arab-Israeli war,
the was underestimating Israel’s power. Its reputation enhanced after
war. Similarly, in Vietnam War, world was overestimating the power of
US.
• Power is multidimensional. It includes military, economic, psycho-
logical, cultural, and technological instruments. The ability to control other
states and aspects of the international environments will de-
pend on the relative usefulness of the instruments of power.
• Power is dynamic. It is considered as political currency of
international relations. States can increase or decrease their
level of power, depending on the rate at which power is created
and used. If states use power carelessly, or if they overspend
currency of power, they may end up politically bankrupt. As in
economic life, state must save and invest resources in order to
expand their political stock of power.
• Power can be institutionalized by establishing rules,
regimes, and institutions that reflect the distribution of
power among groups and communities. For example,
5major states of world – US, China, Britain, France,
Russia – institutionalized their power in permanent
membership of security council of UN.
References
• Introduction to International Relations by M. Cox & R. Campanaro (London: LSE,
2016). Chapter 15 “Power”.
• World Politics: Trend & Transformation by Charles W. Kegley & Shannon L. Blan-
ton (Boston: Cengage, 2011). Chapter 8. PP. 275-284
• Global Politics by Andrew Heywood. Chapter 9. P. 209.
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c_Eutci7ack
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YexlITEIx9c
