Power and developments Flashcards
(41 cards)
Different types of power
Hard, soft and smart
Military hard power
The stick, ability to coerce or make others do something, military: ability of state to commit aggressive act against another, eg China building military power, has largest number of active personnel at over 2 million, Russian aggression in Ukraine, Iraq war fought for US foreign policy reasons.
Economic hard power
The carrot, incentives for states to comply to another, like sanctions, trade barriers and restrictions, or trade agreements as rewards, eg sanctions against South Africa due to apartheid, including protection of workers rights in trade agreements, sanctions against Russia over 16 500 since start of war.
Effectiveness of hard power
Limited eg China hasn’t been able to assert dominance in South China Sea, sanctions have been largely unsuccessful against Russia due to cooperation elsewhere like BRICS. Consequences of hard power eg fallout in Iraq, and the emergence of black majority rule in South Africa could be attributed to sanctions. Double standards especially in economics as western states will often turn a blind eye to trading partners eg no action against China’s human rights record.
The UKs soft power
English most common second-language in world, remnants of British imperialism and global US influence, leading role in IGOs like forming the Council of Europe.
The EUs soft power
Economic power in creation of the single market, free movement means an attractive market place, eg expansion in 2004, role of high representative gives it voice in foreign policy, involved in 30 missions since 2003 for security, humanitarian aid etc, key role in negotiations with Iran for nuclear disarmament.
Smart power
Combination of hard and soft, Joseph Nye coined term in 2004, inspired by Clinton’s presidency, argued most effective is smart power, used example of dealing with Taliban in Afghanistan, hard power needed but without soft would have alienated other Muslim states.
Places states can derive power
Capabilities: such as population, wealth, military, natural resources etc.
Relationships: known as relational power, making rights alliances
Structures: control of knowledge, finances, security and global production, USA leading power in number of IGOs.
Great powers
Term originates from early 19th century, Kenneth Waltz’s criteria:
- population
- resources
- economic development
- political stability
- military strength
additionally ability to project power, Britain a key great power, by 1922 British Empire ruled around 1/5 of global population, challenged by Germany due to rapid industrialisation, US rising but Monroe Doctrine stop US involvement in Europe until WW2.
Superpowers
Term emerged post WW2 to describe US and USSR, distinguished by mobility of power, both had blocs which they dominated through NATO and Warsaw Pact, US involvement in Korean and Vietnamese wars as well as sponsoring right-wing activities in the rest of the Americas, supporting Israel as counter-weight to Soviet supported states in middle east, transformed into superpowers by development of nuclear weaponry.
Emerging powers
Only recent usage of term, mostly associated with growing economy, largely caused by widening trade due to globalisation, G20 seen as important global forum for emerging powers to exert influence, as well as BRICS.
Define polarity
Description of power and authority among states, nature of the international system and how power is distributed.
Implications of unipolarity
Where there are no constraints to global hegemonic power, realists see as natural result of power seeking states as only way to protect own state is to become the hegemon, can be positive as hegemon acts as ‘global police force’ intervening in conflict and enforcing human rights, can ensure economic stability, this associated with phases of ‘Pax Britannicus’ and ‘Pax Americana’, however liberals fear predatory hegemon where other states led into security dilemma, therefore leading to more conflict.
Implications of bipolarity
Power around two major states or blocs where near balance of power between the two, for realists is most natural state, as states less likely to seek power for fear of challenge so equilibrium is reached leading to relative security, however others would argue that preemptive arms races to prevent other becoming the hegemon lead to more insecurity, many see cold war as best bipolarity but during cold war there were violent interactions in proxy wars such as Korea or Vietnam, in the end Soviet economy could not compete with the US, ended because of Gorbachev’s principles of Perestroika = relaxation of the economy and Glasnost = political transparency.
Implications of multipolarity
Three or more power centres, neo-realists argue it is inherently unstable and is anarchical polarity where small power changes could lead to conflict, liberals optimistic, believe multilateralism and cooperation, is interdependent polarity.
Two major obstacles to peace and security
How the UN should be strengthened without threatening state sovereignty, reform has proved impossible due to gridlock from veto,
How to promote peace between USA and Russia
Problems between USA and Russia
Russia developed a capitalist democracy but not a liberal one, elections are rigged, Putin not partnered with USA eg over war on terror in 2001, Russian resentment to widening of NATO and EU to former Warsaw Pact states and US intervention in Kosovo against Russian Allies Serbians. Growing Russian nationalism and rising economy under Putin reasserted Russia as a world power and is an ‘energy superpower’ providing fuel.
USA as a global hegemon
To be hegemon would need to be vastly stronger economically politically and culturally.
Yes: US has world’s largest economy and is responsible for over half of global military spending, more than half population live in urban areas, leading figure and architect of institutions like UN and Bretton Woods, culturally seen in coca-colanisation and a McWorld, Hollywood largest film industry, ‘leader of the free world’ widespread US values, Biden asserted ‘America is Back’ renewed liberal criticism of China and expansion of their military budget.
No: China’s economy catching up, Russia has more nuclear warheads, unsuccessful militarily in Vietnam, preventing 9/11, withdrawing from Afghanistan, powerless in Syria, American values challenged by Islamic fundamentalism, China asserting dominance with bigger navy in S China sea.
China as a challenge to US hegemony
Yes: Rapid economic progress since market reforms, became largest exporter in 2009, relatively unaffected by 2008 financial crash and US dependent on Chinese loans, largest population, largest number of armed personnel at over 2 million, investment in central Africa, BRI, dominance in S China Sea and threatening Taiwan, beyond US influence.
No: rate of economic growth declined in 2023, economy depends on cheap labour but growth has created an expectant middle class, new estimates may not overtake US until 2080, one child policy has created aging population, no reform of political system and harsh repression eg over the Tiananmen Square protest in 1989, military doesn’t have global reach, only one overseas base compared to over 70 American ones.
BRICS
Brazil: large natural resources and agricultural sector for in demand products like coffee, large population
Russia: re-emerged in recent years, large natural resources being exploited under new capitalism, many states dependent for energy, increasingly militarily aggressive
India: large economy due to limited dependence on exports, largest population, international appeal of Bollywood
China and South Africa, 6 additional states added in 2023 including Egypt, Iran, Argentina and Ethiopia etc.
Covers almost half of the world’s population and 37% of global GDP.
MINT
Mexico: replacing China as USA’s largest trading partner
Indonesia, Nigeria, and Turkey, states which have potential for large economic growth.
Criteria for a democratic state
Free and fair elections free from intimidation, each vote is the same, genuine choice of parties, citizens have rights such as freedom of speech, range of pressure groups, and an independent judiciary.
UK as a democracy
Evolved gradually, representation from the 13th Century with parliament, but universal suffrage in 1928, rights began to be recognised from 1215, political parties from late 18th century Whigs and Tories, protection of rights through Supreme Court, free elections, thousands of pressure groups.
Defining semi-democratic states
Characteristics of democracies such as elections but may not be free and fair, judiciary not independent, constitution may be subverted, theoretical freedom of speech but state controlled media.
