Peace, Sovereignty and International Relations

What is power?

Having influence over others to achieve your desired goals.

Types of power

• soft

• hard

• smart

• sharp

What is soft power?

Using persuasion to achieve one’s goals

• persuasion

• encouragement

• convincing

• influence

→ Development aid is a key tool for powerful states like the US to advance their interests through persuasion. Most USAID goes to countries crucial for US security; in 2015, Afghanistan and Pakistan were top recipients.

→ China pledged $1.4 trillion for African infrastructure, gaining favorable access to natural resources.

What is hard power?

Achieving aims through force

• coercion

• force

• threats

→ In 2014, the US and others launched military action against Islamic State in Syria and Iraq as they were unwilling to negotiate due to lack of soft and smart power alternatives.

→ In 2003, the US coalition used military force against Saddam Hussein, criticized for not giving UN weapons inspectors more time. Critics suggested a "smart power" approach combining inspections with the threat of force.

What is smart power?

Achieving aims through both force and persuasion

→ The 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and P5+1 involved diplomatic talks, sanctions, and potential military pressure.

→ Hezbollah (Lebanese Shia Islamist political party and military group, violent protest group) used hard power against their oppositions, but as well as built and ran schools, established and maintained health care facilities, and participates in democratic coalition politics in the Lebanese parliament.

What is sharp power?

Using manipulation to achieve goals (faking info and spreading it)

→ Allegations of Russian interference in the 2016 US election

→ China's growing disinformation campaigns targeting American voters

MELNS Capabilities

Power is seen as a capability/possession where it is measurable

• Military strength

• Economic strength

• Land mass & geographic

• Natural resources

• Size/skill population

Military power

The armed forces of a nation

• measured through defence spending, armed forces, weapons and platforms

Successful: helps ensure safety and stability

Failures: rarely works alone

Economic power

A country’s ability to influence the global or regional economy

Successful: It ensures that the country does not have to depend on others without jeopardizing its freedom

Failures:

Structural/relational power

Social, cultural and cyber power

Resource power

Problems with power vs capabilities

• Capabilities are latent and potential, and are not actual REAL power

• Quantity =/= quality

• Change is always happening, it is not always permanent

Realism

A group of related theories that attempt to explain therole of power in the global political system

Classical Realism

Human nature wants power

Humans strive for hegemony

It leads to the end of the world

Structural Realism

States pursue power because of survival

It leads to the end of their survival