POWER

"Man's control over the minds and actions of other men." Hans Morgenthau

There are many different definitions of power that are used in politics and international
relations. However, one of the most commonly accepted definitions is that power refers to
one's ability to exert a degree of influence over someone else. This influence makes someone
do something they would not have done otherwise.
Power often has negative connotations associated with it, and therefore wanting to seek
power is viewed unfavourably, and words like power hungry are used in a
non-complementary manner. Given that power simply means being able to make someone do
something they would not otherwise do, power itself is not innate negative or bad, rather it's
what can be done with power that stirs up those negative associations. As a child, your
parents may have been able to send you to bed earlier than you would have otherwise wanted
to, this is an example of power, and you would not view this as being innately bad.
Power is a phenomenon of all relationships, and political relationships are no exception to
this rule. As minds cannot be seen, power can be determined by the behaviour of individuals
and states. In a very broad sense, power has been defined "as the ability or capacity to control
others and get them to do what one wants them to do and also to see that they do not do what
one does not want them to do." In international relations, power is the ability of a state to
make its will prevail and to enforce respect and command obedience from other states. This is
how Professor Mahendra Kumar has explained the power of the states. Simply speaking,
power is an ability which may not be exercised. But, when exercised, this ability enables a
state to control the behaviour of other states
Theory of Power in International Relations
While there are many theories that discuss power in international relations, the most
important point to understand is how these theories of power argue that states are about to
gain power. There are three main ways through their capabilities, relationships, and
structures.
Capabilities look at how many resources a state has, these can include financial resources,
population, military capability, and even the geography of the country. A poor country with a
small population usually has less capability than a rich country with a large population; for
example, if they went to war with each other, some would argue that this means they have
less power.

Relationships are also an important part of gaining power in international relations. This
means things like joining an alliance or an international organisation. This can give you more
power than you would otherwise have. For example, Canada is more powerful because of the
strong relationship it has with the US. When you gain power from relationships like this it is
called 'relational power'.

Lastly, Structures are important when looking at theories of power in international relations.
Gaining power from structure means that a state has created or has control of important areas
like specific knowledge or security and production networks. For example, Germany is a lot
more powerful because of how important it is in creating and leading the European Union.
Types of Power
Despite the numerous definitions and categorisations of types of power in international
relations, generally, we refer to three types of power.
Hard Power
Soft Power
Smart Power

Hard Power
Hard power is power that is commanding. With hard power, you are able to make someone
do as you usually want through the use of the carrot or stick approach. This refers to the idea
that if one complies with your wishes they will be rewarded, and if one does not do as you
wish they will be punished. Hard power is usually associated with a country's military and
economic capacity.
As mentioned previously, not only is military capacity an important element of hard power,
but economic capacity is too. This can take the form of sanctions, which may be used on
nations that do not fall in line with the desires of the sanctioning country.
Soft Power
Soft power in international relations is a form of power that has an attractiveness or allure to
other states. It is based upon shared values, culture, and diplomacy. The resources that soft
powers utilise are usually economic power, relational power and historical relationships.
Unlike the way in which hard power uses economic power to impose punishments, soft
power states use their strong economic position to appear desirable to other nations. If a state
has a stable and strong economy, this state has power as other nations will seek to engage in
trades with this state in hope of benefitting from the strong economy of the state.Relational
power is also key to soft power and stems from a desire to be included in important decisions

Smart Power

Smart power refers to the strategic combination of both hard and soft power. Not every
scenario can be won with a hard power approach, nor can it be won by the use of soft power.
Therefore, it is important for states to discern when to approach with a smile or when to
approach with their fangs bared.A smart power approach is often used when direct threats
need to be addressed and subsequent rebuilding must occur. NATO or the UN peacekeeping
forces can be viewed as an example of smart power as there is a large military capability that
instead of seeking to instil fear or create destruction is often used to maintain peace and
diplomatic efforts between nations, (though this is not always the case).
 Elements of Power in International Relations

Natural Determinants

Natural elements of power refer to inherent factors tied to a state's geography, resources, and
population. These elements are largely determined by a country’s natural environment and
physical characteristics, which shape its potential to project influence and achieve strategic
objectives. Key natural elements of power include:

Geography

● Strategic Location
● Terrain
● Size

Natural Resource

● Energy Resources
● Mineral Wealth
● Water Resources

Population

● Population Size
● Demographic Structure

Climate and Agriculture

● Agricultural Capacity
● Climate

Natural Defence

● Seas and Ocean

● Desert and Rivers

Biodiversity and Ecosystems

● Ecosystem Resources
Strategic Minerals and Materials

● Strategic Materials

Social Determinants Of Power

Economic

Military

● Military as a Reflection of National Identity

● Military Diplomacy and Cooperation
● Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief
● Military as a Tool of National Unity

Political

● Government Stability
● Diplomacy
● Political leadership
● Ideologies and Values
● Alliances
● International Law
● Global Governance
● Foreign Policy
● Aids and Sanctions
● Domestic Unity
● Soft Power

Psychological Element

The psychological element of power in international relations refers to the influence that
perceptions, beliefs, emotions, and attitudes have on the behaviour of states, leaders, and
populations. It involves how countries use psychological strategies to project power,
manipulate perceptions, and influence the actions of others without necessarily using force or
economic means. Here’s how the psychological element of power can be understood

● Perception of Power
● Fear and Deterrence
● National Reputation and Credibility
● Leadership Psychology
● Propaganda and Information warfare
● Psychological Warfare
 ● Public Opinion and Morale
● Manipulation of Threats
● Perception of Weakness
● Psychological Influence through Soft Power

Centre Of Power

In international relations (IR), the term "centre of power" refers to the dominant states or
entities that hold significant political, economic, or military influence on the global stage.
These centres, often called "great powers" or "superpowers," shape international order, set
norms, and influence the behaviour of other states.

Key Concept of Centre of Power

● Unipolarity
● Bipolarity
● Multi-polarity
● Regional Powers

Shift In Powers

● Rising Power
● Declining Power