Types of Power Terms Bipolarity Unipolarity Multipolarity Soft

Types of Power

Terms • Bipolarity • Unipolarity • Multipolarity • Soft • Hard • Military • Structural • Relational • Emerging power • Great power • Superpower

What is Power? • Capability – attributes that they possess (military, economic, political powers) • Relationship – exercise of influence over other actors • Structure – ability to control the political agenda and shape how things are done • Independence – ability to successfully conduct its own affairs without interference of other countries

Polarities • Unipolar: a distribution of power in which one state exercises most of the cultural, economic, and military influence (one great power faces no competition) • Bipolar: a distribution of power in which two states have the majority of economic, military, and cultural influence internationally or regionally • Multipolar: a distribution of power in which more than two nationstates have nearly equal amounts of military, cultural, and economic influence.

Hard vs Soft • Hard power: the use of military and economic means to influence the behavior or interests of other political bodies. This form of political power is often aggressive (coercion) and is most effective when imposed by one political body upon another of lesser military and/or economic power. Examples: military power (coercion, war, alliances) economic power (sanctions, aid, bribes) Hard Power: Strong military power (many of them hired Indians) as well as economic power by taxing essentials like land salt • Soft power: when an actor influences other actors through "its culture (in places where it is attractive to others), its political values (when it lives up to them at home and abroad), and its foreign policies (when others see them as legitimate and having moral authority) Examples: diplomacy, foreign aid, cultural/educational exchanges, treaties, organizational membership, etc. Soft Power: Creating demand for British goods such as textiles, and a desire among many (including young Gandhi) to become like the high class British.

Structural vs Relational • Structural: the ability to shape the frameworks within which global actors relate to one another, thus affecting how things shall be done (enforcing of adaptation for newcomers) Structural Power: As a complete structure, Indians needed money to pay taxes and buy the new products they desired. Many of them took jobs enforcing British rule: as soldiers, police, etc. • Relational: the ability of one actor to influence another actor or actors in a manner not of their choosing (usually through compellance or deterrence) Compellance: getting actor to do what they would not otherwise have done (Indians having to pay high taxes to the Crown or suffer consequences ) Deterrence: preventing actor from doing what they would otherwise have done (create caste system to keep Indians divided and prevent riots against the Crown)

Emerging Powers • Power is dynamic • Position is changing as their power grows and their capacity to shape outcomes • Carry some potential to challenge existing hierarchal system of power • Strong aspirations to increase power and influence on regional/global scale Example: BRICS, Turkey, Mexico, South Korea

Great Powers • A great power is a nation that is able to extend its power and influence across the globe through military, economic, political and cultural power • Actively in pursuit of obtaining higher status in the world • Usually founding members of IGOs and have special privileges • Some of the strongest economies in modern times with stability Examples: UK, France, Germany, China, Japan, Russia

Superpowers • hard and soft power in abundance • a highly advanced and productive economy • a stable political system • a large population with most citizens thriving compared to world counterparts • a powerful military • a large amount of cultural influence • hegemonic in nature Example: USA (undeniably), China (questionably)

Practice Time • Time to practice writing a 15 -marker based on the following question……Explain the Main Types of Power in Global Politics

15 -Marker: Explain the Main Types of Power in Global Politics • A threshold Level 2 response will typically exhibit the following features: • Likely to be some attempt at a definition/explanation of power in general • Likely to be discussion of at least two measurements of power though limited • A threshold Level 3 response will typically exhibit the following features: • Likely to be a clear definition or explanation of the central term • Likely to be three clearly explained measurements with good examples