types of power

what is hard power?

the use of the military and economic power to influence the behaviour and interests of other states and political actors

how does hard power work?

through the promise of economic reward, and fear of military repercussions

what else has hard power been described as?

carrots and sticks

what do realists believe?

the absence of a global government can drive states to be power-seeking - hard power is most effective

how can hard power be counterproductive?

US intervention in vietnam, afghanistan, iraq and libya has been expensive and unpopular

what is soft power?

the capacity to influence the behaviour and interests of others through attraction and persuasion

the four elements of soft power?

cultural power, political values, foreign policy, shared language

who coined the term ‘soft power’?

joseph nye

a drawback of soft power?

it can be useless when confronting military power

examples of increasing prominence of soft power

sporting events, education - universities, language and culture

impact of sporting events

35% of people more likely to visit uk after 2012 olympics

impact of language and culture

China - Confucius institutes began in 2004 to promote chinese language and culture

UK - British Council promotes the english language and closer relations

what is smart power?

soft power when possible, and hard power when necessary

who popularised the term smart power?

joseph nye

where is smart power seen?

barack obama’s efforts against the islamic state group - unmanned drone strikes, but also tried to improve relations with diplomacy and countered propaganda with radio broadcasts and the internet

who came up with structural power?

susan strange in ‘states and markets’

what is structural power?

describing a states position in the international system, strongest states have ‘the power to decide how things will be done’

how to have structural power?

a significant or powerful role in bodies such as the UN, G7, G20 and other IGOs

how does the US have strong structural power?

US has effective veto power in the IMF and World Bank, permanent on UN security council, founding member of NATO

example of US veto in UN security council

June 2025 - US vetoed UN resolution for Gaza ceasefire

example of China’s structural power

created Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank in 2016 as an alternative source of finance - over 100 states have joined