power, foreign policy, and pursuit of national interests

political issue

situations dealing with the distribution of power and how it operates

actors

power to bring about change

stakeholders

people affeected by political issues without being directly involved

power

ability to influence others and achieve outcomes

hard power

achieved with force, threats of force, or economic sanctions

soft power

persuasion or influence using diplomacy

smart power

combination of hard and soft power, includes diplomacy

unipolar 

one state is more powerful than the rest

bipolar

two rival but equally powerful states engage in conflict, but do not truly challenge each other

multipolar

many powerful states competing with each other

rising power

created via economic growth or military victory

power diffusion

centralized nation-state power moving out to organizations like amazon or ISIS

national interests

cultural, economic, political, religious, or military goals

how do nations justify pursuing national interest?

• safety and security

• economic growth

• prosperity

foreign relations

nation states interacting with each other

foreign policy

laws detailing plans nation-states have to achieve foreign interests

realism

• countries are in competition, the state is the primary actor

• world exists in anarchy

• need to use hard power

liberal internationalism

cooperation, a rules-based system, and international order is a good way of using power