Types of Power

Question 1

what are the different types of power?

Answer 1

Power can be exercised in different ways

There is hard power which includes the use of military or economic rewards and punishments

There is soft power which can be exerted through diplomatic relations and the sharing of cultural values

More recently there has been the emergence of smart power which is a combination of hard and soft power

Question 2

what is power?

Answer 2

The ability to exert influence over others to do something they would not otherwise do

It is about having the resources military power persuasiveness or integrity to make others do what you want them to do and less about legality or authority gained via elections

An important aspect of international relations

Three types of power hard soft and smart

Question 3

what is hard power?

Answer 3

Hard power is the use of military or economic means to influence the behaviour or interests of other political bodies it is essentially command or coercive power

The ability to make others do as you want or using some form of incentive to get what you want

Includes military and economic power

Question 4

hard power: what is military power?

Answer 4

Military power is the capacity of a state to commit an aggressive act against another state up to and including full-scale conflict it is the ultimate form of coercion

Recent examples of expansion in military power Or demonstrations of military power i.e. hard power include China Russia and the USA

Question 5

hard power: China’s military power

Answer 5

As China’s economic power has grown, it is now the second richest day in the world expected to surpass the US economy, It has been building up its military capability

In 2009 it spent around $70 billion on the military and by 2016 it’s military budget was $150 billion

Question 6

hard power: Russia’s military power

Answer 6

Russia are used at 16 version of georgia in 2008 to retaliate against Georgia’s suppression of Russian nationalist separatists in South Ossetia

Question 7

hard power: the USA’s military power

Answer 7

the Iraq war in 2003 was thought to achieve a number of foreign policy objectives for the USA but principally the intention was to subdue America’s enemies in the Middle East and other parts of the world

Question 8

hard power: what is economic power?

Answer 8

Economic power involves inducements or incentives to a state to act according to another state wishes

Economic sanctions are commercial and financial penalties applied by one or more countries against a targeted country this may include trade barriers tariffs and restrictions on financial transactions

Trade agreements give countries privileged access to each other’s markets

Recent examples of countries exercising economic power illustrate the varied nature of this means of hard power South Africa Russia USA and EU

Question 9

hard power: economic power in South Africa

Answer 9

There were long-running sanctions against South Africa from 1986 to 94 by the USA Japan and the European economic community in an attempt to end the racist apartheid regime

The sanctions prevented trade in certain commodities and financial services

Question 10

hard power: economic power in Russia

Answer 10

Since 2014 the EU has imposed economic sanctions on Russia due to its military backing of Russian nationalist Separatists in Ukraine and it’s annexation of Crimea

This includes the freezing of assets held in the EU by individuals and entities associated with Putin and his government as well as a ban on certain exports to Russia

Question 11

hard power: economic power in the USA and EU

Answer 11

The USA and the EU were the 1st to insert clauses into the trade agreements protecting human rights and workers conditions

Now more and more countries are using trade agreements to further their political objectives

Question 12

the effectiveness of hard power can be questioned: CHINA

Answer 12

China may have increased its military capability but it has not yet been able to assert its legal claims over the South China Sea or establish military superiority in the region

In fact US bases in Japan South Korea qualm the Philippines Australia and the Malacca Straits effectively encircle China

Question 13

the effectiveness of hard power can be questioned: RUSSIA

Answer 13

Russia’s intervention over south Ossetia Has essentially left the area in limbo but georgia has not been able to suppress the Russian national list movement there

Sanctions have been on successful in bringing about a withdrawal of Russian support for the separatists in eastern Ukraine

Question 14

the effectiveness of hard power can be questioned: USA

Answer 14

Consensus over the impact of the Iraq war for the USA is that it reduced its power in the middle east and has given rise to more terrorism and instability in the region

Question 15

the effectiveness of hard power can be questioned: SOUTH AFRICA

Answer 15

Sanctions against the apartheid regime in South Africa may have contributed to the emergence of black majority ruling the country but the sanctions were not in forced by many important trading countries like the UK and domestic factors were probably more important in ending the apartheid regime than the sanctions

Question 16

the effectiveness of hard power can be questioned: TRADE AGREEMENTS

Answer 16

Whether trade agreements really work in promoting human rights is debatable because countries seeking to make trade agreements are usually already on a path to democratisation the adoption of the rule of law and the protection of rights

And western states tend to promote human rights but turn a blind eye when important trading partners have lower standards of human rights than what is desirable

China is a good example of such double standards and every western leader is aware of China’s human rights record but no concrete action is taken even when the treatment of political prisoners and critics of the regime does not improve

Question 17

the effectiveness of hard power can be questioned: MILITARY POWER

Answer 17

Military power is declining as a method of pursuing a states interests

Interstate conflict is decreasing and economic interdependence is increasing so states are more likely to resort to economic sanctions or trade agreements to extend their influence rather than resorting to military power

For example in Ukraine in 2016 NATO increased its presence in Eastern European states bordering Russia but European states chose to use economic sanctions as their main tool in persuading Russia to withdraw support for the Russian separatists there was no immediate prospect of military intervention on behalf of Ukraine

Question 18

what is soft power?

Answer 18

Wall hard power involves threats punishments or incentives and rewards soft power is based on attraction and identification sharing values and ideas of culture in order to exert influence

Involves diplomatic and cultural power as opposed to military and economic power

Question 19

who are the leading soft powers?

Answer 19

UK and the EU are widely recognised as leading soft powers in the international system

The top 10 soft powers in the world today UK Germany USA France Canada Australia Switzerland Japan Sweden Netherlands

Question 20

soft power: the UK

Answer 20

The UK has topped recent league tables of soft power states

One reason is that English is the most common second language in the world spoken by around 1 billion people which is around the seventh of the worlds population this is a product of both British imperialism in the 19th century and the global influence of the US in the 20th and 21st centuries

Familiarity with and admiration for British culture wins the UK friends and allies across the world And enables the UK to exert more influence and reach more people

Britain has also taken a leading role in the formation of international organisations it helped to establish the Council of Europe in 1948 which produced the European convention on human rights and the European Court of human rights Britain is also a member of the UN Security Council and a leading member of the International Olympic Committee with London the only city to have hosted the Olympic games three times

All of these factors increase the U.K.’s ability to use soft power as it has a high level of influence across the globe

Question 21

soft power: the EU

Answer 21

the EU emerged in the 21st-century as a significant soft power despite not being a state

Its strength lies in its economic power the single market the removal of all nontariff barriers to trade in goods and the removal of most restrictions on trade in services free movement of labour and capital along with 19 of the 28 member states sharing the same currency makes the EU an attractive market place

Which gives it more influence thus increasing its soft power it has become a significant force in international relations

The EU expanded considerably in 2004 as newly democratised Eastern European countries sought to take advantage of the economic opportunities it offered

Question 22

soft power: the EU

Answer 22

The creation of the role of high representative a foreign minister for the EU enables it to speak with one voice by sending one representative to meetings of international organisations such as the IMF G20 and G7

Question 23

soft power: the EU

Answer 23

It has been involved in 30 missions and operations since 2003 to help states with security police training customs piracy and border management as well as providing support in delivering humanitarian aid

For example the EU began negotiations with Iran in 2013 for the International atomic energy agency is inspectors to have access to its nuclear weapons program culminating in the 2015 joint comprehensive plan of action which was signed by the five permanent members of the UN Security Council as well as Germany the EU and Iran itself

This demonstrates the influence of soft power of the EU as it is something that the USA had failed to achieve alone through its use of sanctions and breaking off diplomatic relations with Iran

Question 24

what would liberals argue about soft power?

Answer 24

Liberals would argue that the EU’s success over Iran is nuclear weapons program is a testament to the superiority of soft power over hard power diplomacy can take a long time over 12 years in the case of Iran but in the long run it can achieve better outcomes than hard power

They would also argue that the increase in the number of international organisations and the growth in world trade means that soft power has the potential to be a more effective way for states to promote their interests than military force or economic penalties

Question 25

Aesop’s fable: the wind and the sun

Answer 25

As the wind and the Sun was debating which one of them was stronger a man came along wearing a coat the Sun proposed that whoever could remove his coat would be considered the strongest wind agreed and the Sun allows the wind to have the first go The wind began to blow but the man just clasped his coat tighter Then the Sun came out and shone brightly soon the man became too hot to wear the coat so took it off The wind and the Sun illustrate two different approaches to influencing behaviour in order to get a desired outcome (soft and hard power)

Question 26

what is smart power?

Answer 26

Smart power is a combination of hard and soft power It is a term coined by Joseph nye in his book soft power the means to success in world politics 2004 He drew on his experience as assistant secretary of defence during Bill Clinton’s presidency he argues that the most effective foreign policy employs a combination of hard and soft power strategies relying on hard or soft power alone in any given situation will usually prove inadequate

Question 27

what example does Joseph Nye give of smart power?

Answer 27

He uses the example of the Taliban government in Afghanistan which aided and supported the terrorist group Al Qaeda that perpetrated the 911 attacks Simply employing soft power resources to change the hearts and minds of members of the regime would have been ineffective so force was required to remove the regime and isolate Al Qaeda However in developing relationships with the mainstream Muslim world such as Saudi Arabia and Libya the use of hard power would alienate them in these cases soft power may be more beneficial

Question 28

power as capability:

Answer 28

The traditional approach to power in international politics is to treat in terms of capabilities power is therefore an attribute or possession Global politics traditionally sees power in terms of capabilities population territory resources economic capability military strength diplomatic strength and structural power Research and development and cultural appeal can also give a state power Power may include the size and quality of a state Armed Forces its per capita wealth and natural resources the size of its population its land mass and geographical position the size and skills of its population military and economic strength But also less tangible factors such as morale and leadership skills

Question 29

power as capability:

Answer 29

However power being measured in terms of capabilities has a number of weaknesses For example during the Vietnam war 1959 to 75 the USA failed to prevail in Vietnam despite enjoying massive economic technological and military advantages over North Vietnam and its Communist ally the Vietcong At best capabilities defined potential or latent power rather than actual power

Question 30

power as capability:

Answer 30

Military strength includes size of army global reach (ability to deploy at any time anywhere) drones nuclear weapons naval strength cyber technology Although size of army is decreasing in importance a large Army is not always affective e.g. Russia in World War I For realists power in international politics boils down to military capacity they have traditionally favoured a basic force model of power on the grounds that military capacity both enables the country to protect its territory and people from external aggression and to pursue its interests abroad through conquest and expansion Key factors are there for the size of the Armed Forces that effectiveness training discipline and leadership and access to the most advanced weaponry and equipment

Question 31

power as capability:

Answer 31

Economic capability might include higher GDP good trade balances lack of debt stability of economic growth influence over trade rules E.g. economic growth in China-was growing at three times the rate of any western economy making a very powerful and influential economic power Estates power in international affairs is closely linked to their wealth and economic resources partly because economic development underpins military capacity as wealth enable states to develop large armies acquire modern weapons and wage costly or sustained wars Modern technology and an advanced industrial base also gives state political Leveridge in relation to trading partners especially if the national currency is so strong and stable that it is widely used as a means of international exchange

Question 32

power as capability:

Answer 32

Structural power includes being able to influence and persuade other states e.g. through organisations or agreements like NATO

Question 33

power as capability:

Answer 33

Diplomatic strength includes reach of foreign policy global impression ability to utilise power of influence E.g. Suez crisis 1950 6USA is diplomatic strength and power of influence they told UK France and Israel to retreat and take their troops out so they all did

Question 34

power as capability:

Answer 34

a large population benefits estate both economically and materially giving it a sizeable workforce and the potential to develop an extensive army Level of literacy education and skills may be just as important economic development and particularly industrialisation require maths literacy and at least basic levels of work related skills As production distribution and exchange are increasingly dependent on modern technology higher-level scientific and ICT skills have become a requirement for economic success

Question 35

power as capability:

Answer 35

The primary significance of geographical variables such as land area location climate topography and natural resources has traditionally been stressed by geopolitics Beneficial geographical features include access to the sea for trading and military purposes are temperate climate away from earthquake zones and areas where violent tropical storms are frequent navigable rivers for transport trade and energy production (hydroelectric power) arable land for farming and access to mineral and energy resources such as coal oil and gas

Question 36

power as capability:

Answer 36

By measuring these advantages and capabilities states can be classified and placed within a hierarchical structure to explain the international system There are great powers superpowers and emerging powers

Question 37

realist view on hard power

Answer 37

for realists, Hard power is by far the dominant form of power and is most significant in defining a state strength they argue that without sufficient hard power a state sovereignty is weakened Hard palate is crucial in an anarchic system in which every state is competing in conflict is inevitable Hard power is seen as a coercive force and is generally used unilaterally

Question 38

Examples of hard power

Answer 38

Bushes near conservative approach during the war on terror the USA used its military power to lead a coalition of forces in Afghanistan and Iraq Obama ordered drone strikes in various countries including Afghanistan Iraq and Syria Russian invasion of Crimea in 2014 and ongoing presence in various parts of Ukraine has been a clear challenge to Ukraine sovereignty through the use of hard power The economic sanctions placed on Russia by various countries as a result of his actions in Crimea including Australia Canada and the USA and regional blocks and organisations such as the EU and NATO In 2017 Trump launched 59 Tomahawk cruise missiles against the Assad regime is to deter further chemical attacks

Question 39

Liberal view on soft power

Answer 39

Soft power is the way in which a nationstate achieves influence through persuasion this can be manifested through its cultural and diplomatic appeal The liberals this is an increasingly important form of power in an increasingly globalised world where interconnectedness is a common feature and systems of global governance are a necessity Soft power is generally used multilaterally and liberal see it as a way to promote stability

Question 40

Examples of soft power

Answer 40

Obama is Cairo marked a move towards the increased use of soft power in US foreign policy especially in relation to the Arabic world states may use foreign aid as a means of soft power to attract persuade and influence Arguably the formation of the BRICS was a move to increase their soft power by bolstering their diplomatic influence especially within audios such as the G 20 IMF and the World Bank The US has often been said to have significant global cultural influence with globalisation even sometimes called Americanisation seen its influence over popular culture fashion music fast food Germany has arguably exerted it soft power during 2015 to 16 migrant crisis in Europe taking a leading role on the issue and accepting large numbers of refugees

Question 41

Liberal view on smart power

Answer 41

Smart power is mostly a liberal idea although some softer realists may also see the merits of using soft power to reinforce hard power although they ultimately give hard power precedence

Question 42

Examples of smart power

Answer 42

The Obama administration is approach to the Middle East use of power e.g. in the Cairo speech in combination with hard power e.g. drone strikes The UN can also be seen to use smart power for example it offers large amounts of aid and humanitarian relief forms of soft power but it also in forces sanctions and military intervention