How can a country reinforce its position in the world community? What determines national potential of power? What is the "golden ticket" to the elitist club of the most powerful states which set the world's agenda? The exact answer to these questions does not exist, because there are no written rules or instructions "how to get the power and authority worldwide". However, as far back as in XIXth century, everybody could answer the question "how to become a superpower". And the response would be evident: to beat another superpower. In those times the place of the state in the world highly depended on its military force. Last few decades have seen dramatic changes in the structure of international relations and the balance of power. One of the most significant factors underlying these alterations was an intensification of globalisation processes. Growing interconnectedness and interdependence became determinant in policy-making. That factor assured relative world stability: there was no "big" war since World War II. Thus, military power has become a state passive, which, however, does not reduce its importance. At the same time, during XXth century the influence of an economic component of power was rising. Moreover, in the second part of XXth century countries started attaching more significance to their image and reputation. All these components differ by their methods of implementation and the way they influence other countries. That idea was suggested by American political scientist J. Nye who divided the concept of power into two types: "hard" power and "soft" power. According to this classification military and economic elements are included into "hard" power, since they both involve compelling aspect: with "hard" power s... ... middle of paper ... ...culturelle [Book]. - Paris : La Documentation française, 1996. 18. Roche F. La diplomatie culturelle dans les relations bilatérales [Online] // Sens Public. Revue Web. - http://www.sens-public.org/spip.php?article235&lang=fr. 19. Rubinsky Y.I. Speak French [Online] // Russian International Affairs Council. - April 2013. - http://russiancouncil.ru/inner/?id_4=1647#top. 20. Shishkin, D.P., Zhuravleva, N.N. Main Approaches to Determine Cultural Component of the Country Image [Book Section] // Image of the Country/Region: modern approach. New Ideas in Theory and Practice of Communication / авт. книги Gavra D.P.. - Saint-Petersburg : Roza Mira, 2009. 21. Védrine H. La réorganisation du réseau culturel français en Allemagne [Online] // Documents. Revue du Dialoque Franco-Allemagne. - http://www.dokumente-documents.info/uploads/tx_ewsdokumente/doc_dossier_2001_2.pdf.
McQuillan, Aidan. “Des chemins divergents: les Irlandais et les Canadiens francais au XIXe siècle.” ed. Wadell, Eric. “Le dialogue avec les cultures minoritaires.” Ste-Foy, QC: Les Presses De L'Université Laval 1990.
Part 1. 2009. The 'Secondary' of the Print. The. Landstreet, Peter. A. The “Power and Power Relations Lecture”.
Williams, Charles F. "War Powers: A New Chapter in a Continuing Debate." Social Education. April 2003: 128-133. SIRS Issues Researcher. Web. 07 May. 2014.
The study of the geopolitics around the globe and over time is a complex task. Numerous factors influence the causal chain of events that determine the course of a state’s history. Geography in its broadest sense limits the ability of a state to become a superpower, but it also allows certain states to thrive with relative ease compared to lesser developed countries. Location, terrain, technology, and demographics work in conjunction to affect the power of certain states, and it is through the effective use of these elements states attempt to raise or maintain their power. It is the fundamental goal of states to seek relative power over other states and regions, and states will act in ways they believe will maintain or increase their power. However, whiles sometimes states may act irrationally or in ways contrary to their own best interest, ultimately what is fundamental to the actions of a state is the belief that their actions will maintain or increase the state’s power.
Safari the Globe. “France: Culture and Identity.” Safari the Globe. Feb. 2012. Web. 7 Oct. 2013.
In society, it can be agreed that there are two main types of power, proximal relations of power and distal relations of power. Proximal relations of power deals within the personal relationships in society, whereas distal relations of power are related to society in a more abstract way that affects it as a
WWII has a ripple effect across the globe causing changes both internationally and domestically. Internationally, The sun finally began to set over the British Empire with the majority of her majesties colonial possessions gaining independence in the years following the war. Britain’s stage left exit from its hegemonic role resulted in the start of a new “Great Game” between two burgeoning superpowers. A new world order began to take shape with the United States and USSR vying to establish their own hegemony.
The debate between hard and soft power first emerged when Joseph Nye introduced the concept of soft power through his criticisms on declinist theories. Soft power was initially popularised in the early 1990s, however its roots date back to the 1980s when Nye criticised declinists and their analysis on the downturn of US relative power. (Zahran, Ramos, 2010, p. 13) Soft power in Nye’s beliefs is in opposition to hard power and describes it as: “The ability to make others want what you want.” (Zahran, Ramos, 2010, p. 13) Soft power relies on culture, ideologies, and institutions to attract supporters and power. In contrast, hard power uses a much more aggressive method and engages through incentives or threats that are usually correlated to
At this point, with an understanding of what power is, what it means, how it is created and the various means through which it is expressed, one can begin to conceptualise how it is that power functions within a given society. Symbolic, cultural, social and economic capital distribute and perpetuate power within a society, through a cycle of transformation whereby these capital resources can be interchanged and manipulated to the advantage of individuals who have
Now, why so much interest in being THE MOST POWERFUL COUNTRY, COMPANY, GROUP, PERSON, Etcetera?
Traditionally, State power has been viewed without concern for morality. In most accounts, morality did not play a role in power, or reacted counterproductively towards power. The main school of thought in International Relations on the concept of State power, realism, is founded on self-interest and follows the mantra “might makes right.” The Realists believe that a nation should only act in a manner which enhances or advances its own national interest at all costs despite morality and the interests of other nations. A nation cannot successfully navigate the muddy waters of International Relations by waging war and imposing trade sanctions upon all of those who oppose that nation. The second viewpoint on State power is based purely in morality. Idealism requires self sacrifice for the overall good of the global community. Physical power should perform as ...
Some theorists believe that ‘power is everywhere: not because it embraces everything, but because it comes from everywhere… power is not an institution, nor a structure, nor possession. It is the name we give to a complex strategic situation in a particular society. (Foucault, 1990: 93) This is because power is present in each individual and in every relationship. It is defined as the ability of a group to get another group to take some form of desired action, usually by consensual power and sometimes by force. (Holmes, Hughes &Julian, 2007) There have been a number of differing views on ‘power over’ the many years in which it has been studied. Theorist such as Anthony Gidden in his works on structuration theory attempts to integrate basic structural analyses and agency-centred traditions. According to this, people are free to act, but they must also use and replicate fundamental structures of power by and through their own actions. Power is wielded and maintained by how one ‘makes a difference’ and based on their decisions and actions, if one fails to exercise power, that is to ‘make a difference’ then power is lost. (Giddens: 1984: 14) However, more recent theorists have revisited older conceptions including the power one has over another and within the decision-making processes, and power, as the ability to set specific, wanted agendas. To put it simply, power is the ability to get others to do something they wouldn’t otherwise do. In the political arena, therefore, power is the ability to make or influence decisions that other people are bound by.
Whenever world politics is mentioned, the state that appears to be at the apex of affairs is the United States of America, although some will argue that it isn’t. It is paramount we know that the international system is shaped by certain defining events that has lead to some significant changes, particularly those connected with different chapters of violence. Certainly, the world wars of the twentieth century and the more recent war on terror must be included as defining moments. The warning of brute force on a potentially large scale also highlights the vigorousness of the cold war period, which dominated world politics within an interval of four decades. The practice of international relations (IR) was introduced out of a need to discuss the causes of war and the different conditions for calm in the wake of the first world war, and it is relevant we know that this has remained a crucial focus ever since. However, violence is not the only factor capable of causing interruption in the international system. Economic elements also have a remarkable impact. The great depression that happened in the 1920s, and the global financial crises of the contemporary period can be used as examples. Another concurrent problem concerns the environment, with the human climate being one among different number of important concerns for the continuing future of humankind and the planet in general.
Burchill, S., Andrew, L., et al. 2013. Theories of international relations. 5Th Edition. Palgrave Macmillan
Baylis, Smith and Patricia Owens. 2014. The globalization of World Politics: An introduction to international relations. London. Oxford University Press.