Assess the importance of hard power in maintaining the status of superpowers. (12)
A superpower is defined as a country or organisation that has a dominant position in the
world and affects events globally. This status is achieved and maintained with hard power
(force and coercion) and/or soft power (subtle persuasion), but some believe that the
combination of both is most important and Joseph Nye refers to this as ‘smart power’.
While the 18th century saw the British initially colonise India through the use of hard power,
it was the important use of soft power that helped to maintain power and influence. For
example, the introduction of the sport of cricket was undergone in order for British cultural
norms to be encouraged. Because of this, the British-Indian relationship improved, with
many elite Indians being in favour of the British and its empire. This has even followed
through to present day with India being top ranked by the International Cricket Council.
Therefore, this shows how influence and power can be maintained through the use of soft
power, even providing the potential for that superpower status to last specifically through
culture.
However, Russia’s use of hard power as an emerging superpower demonstrates its large
importance. Russia’s military personnel total is around 4 million, including active, reserve,
and paramilitary forces. This large military provides Russia with a high level of security as
well as the ability to threaten and weaken other countries such as in the ongoing
Russo-Ukrainian war. Alongside this, military as a hard power strategy being present in the 5
pillars of power, further signifies its large importance because these pillars determine and
are essential in achieving and maintaining a superpower status.
Lastly, China’s use of both hard and soft power has significantly contributed to its
increasingly rapid emergence as a power. Like Russia, China’s military is large but its budget
is the second largest in the world. This ensures that its military strength is long lasting,
maintaining its power long-term. But, China pairing soft power with this hard power is what
I believe and conclude to be the most important. For example, 78% of Brits ate chinese food
at home in the past 3 months (2015) which demonstrates how China projects its power and
influence globally further through culture. This also supports Joseph Nye’s ‘smart power’
concept.