LESSON: POWER:
MEANING, NATURE,
DIMENSIONS AND
METHODS
Power may be explained in different ways because its meaning is within the context of
human relations. We are encountered with many different explanations in various disciplines.
Even within a single social discipline, power is defined in several different ways.
Some social scientists define it as the use of force whereas many others explain it as the
capacity to secure the desired goals through the use of force or threat of use of force or even
by exercising influence.
According to Morgenthau “Power is the power of man on others” and as a “man’s control
over the minds and actions of other men.”
Another definition is from Schwarzenberger who view power as “the capacity of one to
impose his will on others by reliance on effective sanctions in case of non-compliance.”
Charles P. Schleicher defines power as “the ability to exercise such control as to make others
do what they otherwise would not do by rewarding or promising to reward them, or by
depriving or threatening to deprive them of something they value.”
Based on these definitions we can say that power in
the context of human relations is the capacity and
ability to secure a desired and intended effect or gain
through the use of force, influence and sanctions.
In Social Science and Politics, Power is the ability
to influence or outright control the behavior of
people. It is authority when the power is perceived
as legitimate by the social structure. Power may also
be seen as evil or unjust, but the exercise of power is
accepted as reserved only to humans as social
beings.
What is National Power then? “National
Power is that combination of power and
capability of a state which the state uses for
fulfilling its national interests and goals”
according to Padelford and Lincoln. To
Hartman, it denotes the ability of a nation to
fulfil national goals, how much powerful or
weak a particular nation in securing them.
National Power is simply the ability or capability
of a nation to secure the goals and objectives of
its national interests in relation with other
nations. It involves the capacity to use force or
threat of use of force or influence over others for
securing the goals of national interest. In this
way, we can define National Power as “the ability
to control the behaviour of other states in
accordance with one’s own will.” National Power
is the currency of international relations.
Nation in political science a union of a
society of inhabitants of the same
country, speaking the same language,
coming from a common racial ancestry,
obeying the same laws and a
community of interests and sentiments
formed over the lapse of years.
Nature of National Power
For
understanding
the
nature of National Power let
us know the meaning of the
terms
‘National’
and
‘Power’:
National
National means pertaining to the nation making national
power the power of a nation. However, in the context of
national power the term ‘nation’ does not mean the same
as in Political Science. In the context of national powers,
nation stands for the power of the group of decision
makers and authorities who exercise power on behalf of
the nation. It is the power of the decision-makers who
formulate and implement the foreign policy of the nation
and thereby attempt to secure national goals.
National Power does not mean the power of the entire
population of the state. It is only a psychological link that
makes the people regard the power of the decisionmakers as their own power.
Power:
For understanding the nature of
power in the context of National
Power, it is necessary to
distinguish between Power and
Force, and Power and Influence.
Power and Force: Force means physical force,
violence in the form of police action,
imprisonment, punishment or war. Power means
a psychological relationship of control which is
backed by the use of force, or threat of use of
force. When physical force, war and other
means involving the use of military power or
police power are actually used to secure certain
objectives, power stands replaced by force.
Power and Influence: Both involve the ability to
produce an intended change or effect in the behavior
of others. However, the two are not the same. Power
involves a use of force or threat of use of force.
Political Power or Legal Power is backed by
authority or sovereignty of the state.
Influence involves the attempt to change the
behavior of others through persuasion and not by
threats or force. The scope of influence is wider than
the scope of power and it is more democratic than
power.
8 Main Features of National Power:
National Power has a non-stable,
dynamic character and as such it has
to be continuously or at least
periodically and regularly evaluated
for understanding the role of the
nation in international relations.
National power is always dynamic. A
powerful nation can become less
powerful or more powerful in future.
The Most Important Features of National Power
in Politics:
1. Is both a Means as well as an End in International
Relations:
National Power is the means to control the behavior of other
states with a view to accomplish certain ends. It is recognized as
the currency with which a nation can secure the desired values—
peace, security, progress, development, status, and more power.
Nations use power to secure their interests in international
relations. This makes power a means in relations among nations.
However, in actual practice power is pursued as an objective or
as an end. Nations want power not only for their immediate but
also for their future needs. They, therefore, always try to build up
a reserve of power and hence pursue power as an end. Thus,
power like money is a means but it is mostly pursued as an end.
The Most Important Features of National Power
in Politics:
2. National Power is the Ability to Secure Goals of
National Interest:
National Power is the ability or capacity of a nation to
influence or change the behavior of other nations with a
view to secure the goals of its national interest. It is a
relationship in which a powerful nation is in a position to
achieve its desired goals of national interest in
international relations. National Power is measured in
terms of a nation’s ability to secure its goals and
objectives in international relations.
The Most Important Features of National Power
in Politics:
3. National Power is Dynamic and Relative in Character:
National power is always relative to time and resources. The power of a nation has
to be analyzed both through an analysis of the capabilities and ability of the nation
as well as by a comparison of its national power with other nations..
National Power has a non-stable, dynamic character and as such it has to be
continuously or at least periodically and regularly evaluated for understanding the
role of the nation in international relations. National power is always dynamic. A
powerful nation can become less powerful or more powerful in future.
This depends upon the changes in the power potential of other nations as well as
upon the various components of national power. The power of a nation is always
relative to the powers of other nations, particularly the power of its adversaries. In
1990, the collapse of the USSR and decline in the Russian power acted as a source
of increase in the US power in international relations.
The Most Important Features of National Power
in Politics:
4. No Two Nations Have Equal Power:
Further, it must be noted that no two nations have or
can have absolutely equal power. There can be only
a rough equality between two equally powerful super
powers or great powers or major powers. The power
of a nation is always more or less than the power of
every other nation.
The Most Important Features of National Power
in Politics:
5. There Are Several Elements of National
Power:
National power is often analyzed and evaluated
in terms of the capabilities of a nation which are
determined on the basis of several factors, like
Geography, Population, Industrial Capacity,
Diplomacy, Military Preparedness, Quality of
Leadership and Government etc. All these
factors have to be analyzed both quantitatively
and qualitatively for evaluating the national
power of a nation
The Most Important Features of National Power
in Politics:
6. Actual Power and Potential Power:
Moreover, the attempt to analyze the power of a nation must
focus both on the analysis of actual power as well as potential
power of a nation. Actual power is the power which is
immediately available, whereas potential power is the power
that can be generated in situations of crisis and times of need. It
refers to the crisis- management ability as well as the possible
availability of power in the years to come.
The Most Important Features of National Power
in Politics:
7. National Power is the Currency of International Relations:
Each nation seeks to use its power for securing its national interests in
international relations. It is this feature which makes international
relations regarded as a process of struggle for power. The nature of this
struggle for power can be analyzed only through an analysis of the
national powers of various nations. The role a nation is playing or can
play in international relations can be judged by evaluating its national
power.
In fact, the greatest of all the national interests of a nation is to maintain
and increase its national power. It is the means for the fulfillment of the
needs and aspirations of a nation.
The Most Important Features of National Power
in Politics:
8. National Power is the Basis as Well as a Means of
Foreign Policy:
National Power is the very basis of the foreign policy of a
nation, and foreign policy can be effective in securing the goals
of national interest when there is adequate national power. The
ability of the statesmen and diplomats to act and react with
others is again determined by their respective national power
Dimensions of National
Power:
The three forms of national power are inseparable
from each other. Without economic power no nation
can develop her military power, and without the latter
no nation can play an active role in international
relations. Psychological power can be enduringly
and really effective only when it is backed by
economic and military power.
Some of the major dimensions of national power in
international politics are as follows:
A. Military Power:
Military power is an important dimension of national power. It is
regarded as absolutely essential for achieving the objective of
security of the nation. For every nation, security is the most vital
element of its national interest. It is the primary concern of every
nation to work for her security.
The possibility of violation of security of a nation through war and
aggression by other nations is always considered as a distinct
possibility and hence every nation gives first priority to her
security. For keeping her security against possible violations,
each nation maintains an army. Military power is regarded as the
key means for securing the security and territorial integrity of
each nation.
Military power is as such a vital part of national power. The role
and importance of a state in international relations depends upon
its military power. No state can get recognition as a super power
without being militarily superior.
While evaluating military power of a nation we have to take into
account the other two forms (Economic Power and Psychological
Power) of national power, the elements of military power and the
military power of other nations. USA is a super power and is a
formidable military power. Japan and Germany are big economic
powers but are not recognized even as great powers because
they are weak military powers. Russia, the successor state of
former USSR is a nuclear power but not a super power because
of its economic weakness. China is a big military power but is not
recognized as a super power.
B. Economic Power:
Economic power is the second important dimension of national
power. It is constituted by the ability of a nation to satisfy its
own needs and to control the behavior of other states by
affording or denying access to economic goods and services.
The economic means of foreign policy are today the most vital
means which a state can use for influencing the actions and
behaviour of other states. No state can become a military
power without having adequate economic power.
According to Palmer and Perkins, economic power is
inseparable from military power, for it is one of its basic
components, but even under conditions of modern warfare,
economic power and military power are not the same.
Economic power is used by rich and developed nations to influence other
states by granting them economic aid and loans, and try to secure their
interests in international relations. It is used as a means to induce as well
as to coerce a desired change in the behavior of other states.
In present times, it has come to be recognized as even more important form
of national power than military power as in the case of Japan. Lack of
economic power is a basic factor behind the weak power positions of the
Third World countries.
While evaluating the economic power of a nation one has to take into
account such factors as raw materials, natural resources, food stocks,
industrial and technological capacity, G.N.P., trade surplus, means of
transport and communication, GDP, GDP per capita etc. However,
economic power of a nation when not backed by military power and
psychological power is not very effective in international relations.
C. Psychological Power:
Psychological power means the power of opinion and image of the nation.
The role of propaganda and persuasive negotiations in international relations
have been used by the states for securing an intended change in the
behavior of other states.
The improvement in the means of communications, increased influence of
mass media, social media and public opinion on foreign policy, the
emergence of open and conference diplomacy, the popularity of alternative
ideologies, the role of NGOs and social movements, and the increased role
of propaganda and publicity in international relations, have all increased the
role of this dimension of National Power.
By the use of psychological and cultural means a nation always tries to
influence the people and leaders of other nations. The ability to influence
others through systematic publicity and educational and cultural relations
constitutes the psychological part of the national power of a nation.
The Interdependence of the Three Dimensions of National
Power:
The three forms of national power are inseparable. Without
economic power no nation can develop her military power,
and without the latter no nation can play an active role in
international relations. Psychological power can be enduring
and really effective with economic and military power. Thus,
psychological power is a valuable and important part of
national power. The nature and scope National Power of
nation can be evaluated only by evaluating all these three
highly related and interdependent dimensions of National
Power.
Methods of Exercising National Power:
Each nation uses its national power for
securing its national interests, and goals
of foreign policy. It is used by the nation
through four basic means Persuasion,
Rewards, Punishment and Force.
1. Persuasion:
The art of persuasion consists in defining and logically explaining a
particular problem or issue or dispute to other nations or any other
nation. An attempt is made to persuade other nations to adopt a
particular and desired view or perception of the nature of issues
involved in any bilateral or multilateral problem or dispute or issue. The
attempt is to convince others about goodness of the policies of the
nation. Diplomacy basically uses persuasion to secure support for the
foreign policy that it represents.
Persuasion is widely used by diplomats and statesmen for securing the
desired and defined objectives of the foreign policy. But success in
persuasion can be achieved only when it is supplemented by other
methods and when it is supported by a strong national power and
effective foreign policy.
2. Rewards:
The offering of rewards can be material or economic or psychological. A
nation can give material help to another nation in times of crisis or in other
ways. The practice of giving economic aid and easy loans or grants-in-aid
is another method of winning support and inducing a change in the
behavior of other states.
The token support or grant of certain honors to the statesmen,
philosophers, artists, scientists and scholars of other nations also serve as
psychological rewards intended to keep the other states friendly and
cooperative.
The lease of territories or a military bases or equipment—industrial or
military, transit and trade facilities and grant of right to allow passage of
ships are some of the other forms of rewards which a state can offer to
other states for securing a desired change in their behaviors.
3. Punishment:
A powerful nation can inflict punishment on an offending or unhelpful state by
imposing economic sanctions or norms or policies or placing trade restrictions
or ensuring a denial of a possible reward. Denial or reduction in foreign aid or
loan or refusal to export certain items or technology can be used by a powerful
nation for inflicting a punishment or pressure on other nations.
Thus punishment can be used by a powerful nation for exercising its power over
other states. In actual practice the powerful nations use threat of punishment as
a method and refrain from actual imposition of punishment. The recourse to
punishment can cause a reaction and thus harm the interest of the state
resorting to punishment as a method of exercising its power.
The most effective punishment is the one which secures the desired objective of
a state without the actual infliction of punishment on other states. Threat of
punishment is a better method of exercise of national power than its actual
infliction.
4. Force or Physical Violence:
By the use of military power or physical force, a powerful nation can
compel a desired behavior of another nation. As a method of
exercising power, force is related to punishment.
When punitive action is taken against another nation, it becomes a
case of use of force. However, when only threat of punitive action is
given without the actual use of physical violence against the other
state, it becomes a case of exercise of power through the use of
punishment. As such the difference between force and punishment is
in the actual use of force versus the threat of use of force.
Physical force or violence can be used by resorting to war or acts of
reprisals by a powerful state. Resort to war is the extreme form of
exercise of force in international relation. It is a risky and dangerous
method, which can damage the national power of the state which
resorts to war. This consideration makes the resort to war as a method
of last resort.
Have a good day 😊