Power Concepts in International Relations and Global Political Economy

Vocabulary practice flashcards defining foundational power theories, key scholars, structural frameworks, and emerging frontiers from the lecture.

Realist School

A theoretical perspective in international relations asserting that states are power hungry and fight against each other for power with various means.

Balance of Power

A mechanism in the international relations system used to guarantee stability and equilibrium.

Structural Power

A concept formulated by Susan Strange defined as the power to decide how things shall be done and to shape frameworks within which states, people, or corporate enterprises relate to each other.

Power (Max Weber)

The ability of an individual to achieve their goals when others are trying to prevent them.

Power (Dahl)

The ability to get B to do something that B would not otherwise do.

Soft Power

A concept defined by Joseph Nye as getting others to want the outcomes you want by non-military means.

Hard Power

The possession of resources such as GDP, population, and military capabilities that provide more security for a state in an anarchic international system.

Four Structures of Power

The key theoretical framework introduced by Susan Strange comprising Production and trade, Money and finance, Knowledge and technology, and Security.

Production and Trade Structure

One of Susan Strange's four structures of structural power, concerned with foreign investment and productivity.

Money and Finance Structure

One of Susan Strange's four structures of structural power, centered around banking.

Knowledge and Technology Structure

One of Susan Strange's four structures of structural power, defined by innovative capacity and education.

Security Structure

One of Susan Strange's four structures of structural power, defined by military and police capabilities.

Objectified Norms

Norms that define incentive structures which people internalize as motivational systems and produce inter-subjectively shared practical knowledge guiding practice.

Orbital Space

A finite resource within the space economy that commercial actors are increasingly accessing in a way that states previously did.