Week 3: Political Power

Week 3

Power

Some social scientists define it as the use of force, whereas many others explain it as the capacity to secure desired goals through the use of force or even by exercising influence.

"the capacity of one to impose his will on others by reliance on effective sanctions in case of non-compliance.

may also be seen as evil or unjust, but the exercise of power is accepted as reserved only for humans as social beings

National Power

is the "combination of power and capability of a state that the state uses for fulfilling its national interests and goals," according to Paddleford and Lincoln

It is simply the ability or capability of a nation to secure the goals and objectives of its national interest in relation to other nations. It involves the capacity to use force or the threat of using force or influence over others to secure the goals of national interest

Dimension of National Power

Military Power

Economic Power

Psychological Power

Military Power

is an important dimension of national power. It is regarded as absolutely essential for achieving the objective of ensuring the security of the nation. For every nation, security is the most vital element of its national interest. It is the primary concern of every nation to work for its security.

is such a vital part of national power. The role and importance of a state in international relations depend on its military power. No state can get recognition as a superpower without being militarily superior

Economic Power

is the second important dimension of national power. It is constituted by the ability of a nation to satisfy its own needs and to control the behavior of other states by affording or denying access to economic goods and services.

is used by rich and developed nations to influence other states by granting them economic aid and loans and trying to secure their interests in international relations. It is used as a means to induce and coerce the desired change in the behavior of other states.

Psychological Power

It means the power of opinion and the image of the nation. The role of propaganda and persuasive negotiations in international relations has been used by states to secure an intended change in the behavior of other states..

The ability to influence others through systematic publicity and educational and cultural relations constitutes the psychological part of the national power of a nation.

Methods of Exercising National power

Persuasion

Rewards

Punishments

Force / Violence

Persuasion

consists in defining and logically explaining a particular problem, issue, or dispute to other nations. An attempt is made to____other nations to adopt a particular and desired view or perception of the nature of the issues involved in any bilateral or multilateral problem, dispute, or issue. The attempt is to convince others about the goodness of the policies of the nation.

Rewards

can be material, economic, or psychological. A nation can give material help to another nation in times of crisis or in other ways. The practice of giving economic aid and easy loans, or grants-in-aid, is another method of winning support and inducing a change in the behavior of other states.

The token support or grant of certain honors to the statesmen, philosophers, artists, scientists, and scholars of other nations also serves as psychological rewards intended to keep the other states friendly and cooperative.

Punishments

A powerful nation can inflict___________on an offending or unhelpful state by imposing economic sanctions, norms, or policies, placing trade restrictions, or ensuring the denial of a possible reward. A denial or reduction in foreign aid or loans or a refusal to export certain items or technologies can be used by a powerful nation to inflict___ or pressure on other nations.

Force / Physical Violence

can be used by resorting to war or acts of reprisal by a powerful state. A resort to war is the extreme form of_____ exercised and a method of last resort in international relations. It is a risky and dangerous method that can damage the national power of the state.A

Authority

"the power or right to give orders and enforce obedience; the power to influence others based on recognized knowledge or expertise.”

"It can most simply be defined as legitimate power. It is, therefore, based on an acknowledged duty to obey rather than on any form of coercion or manipulation. In this sense, authority is power cloaked in legitimacy or rightfulness"

Types of Political Authority

Traditional

Charismatic

Legal Rational

Traditional

It is the power that is rooted in the __________ , or long-standing, beliefs and practices of a society. It exists and is assigned to particular individuals because of that society’s customs.

Charismatic

It is an authority that stems from an individual’s extraordinary personal qualities and from that individual’s hold over followers because of these qualities. Such _________ individuals may exercise authority over a whole society or only a specific group within a larger society.

is found in a leader whose mission and vision inspire others. It is based on the perceived extraordinary characteristics of an individual.

Legal- Rational

derives from law and is based on a belief in the legitimacy of a society’s laws and rules and in the right of leaders to act under these rules to make decisions and set policy.

This form of authority is frequently found in modern states, city governments, private and public corporations, and various voluntary associations. In fact, Weber stated that the "development of the modern state is indeed identical with that of modern officialdom and bureaucratic organizations, just as the result of modern capitalism is identical with the increasing bureaucratization of economic enterprise.