State Behavior the International System-Free-Samples-Myassignment

Question: Does Power help us understand State Behaviour in the International System? Answer: Assistance of power, in understanding the state behaviour in the international systems Power is one of the most essential components in the context of international relations. Power is often defined as on actor in a social relationship, who is in the position of carrying out his own commands, along with ensuring followers, to follow his principles (Baylis, Owens and Smith 2017). The power in international relation is observed as a potential that is dependent on several factors such as geographical position and size, natural resources, population, tangible resources such as industrial development, employment and technical advancements, along with intangible resources such as national image, public support, leadership, loyalty of the citizens of the country (Adler-Nissen and Pouliot 2014). The modern concept of international power defines both economic and military power. Power, as a concept gets least attention in the international theory. The various types of power and its uses on the international relations have been highlighted in this assignment. The role of power, in understanding the international systems has been shed light upon, in this assignment. While studying international relations, development of various terms such as hard power, soft power, smart power, institutional power, compulsive power, productive power has been defined. However, the concept of power has two dimensions (Finnemore 2009). This includes the kinds of social relations through which the capabilities are affected, and the specificity of the social relations (Berenskoetter and Williams 2007). However, for the social theorists, social relations are viewed as the relations of the interactions among the earlier constituted social actors and the relations of constitution of actors as specific kinds of social beings. The expression of power, whether it is interaction or constitutional, has a major significance. One of the positions of this dimension treats the relations as actions of pre-constituted social actors with each other in the society. In this dimension, the role of power is either through behavioural relations or social interactions (Berenskoetter and Williams 2007). The other dimension consists of the social relations of constitution. In this case, the power works through social relations. However, the constitutional relations cannot be reduced to the actions or interactions, of the actors. According to Barnett and Duvall (2005), power is irreducibly social. The distribution of the power and its display in the international relations are as follows: The first system is the hemonic system in which there is only one dominant power (Finnemore 2009). For example, today the world is under the hegemonic state with the US being sole military power. Moreover, the world also sees US as the economic super power. The second system is power distribution is the bipolarity system where two superpowers dominate their power. For example, the period following the Second World War could be called the period of bipolarity as during this period, there were two major powers which dominated the world, namely United States and Soviet Union (Finnemore 2009). The third kind of power distribution is the multipolarity in which more than two dominant or superpowers exert their power in the world. For example, the situation, following the Peace of Westphalia or the Treaty of Westphalia in the year 1648, was considered to be multipolar (Finnemore 2009). Use of power capabilities The wide variety of the capabilities, which are related to power, is not enough. These capabilities need to be used in order to alter the behavior of other people. Since power has a key role to play, in the international relations, hence the use of power has to be done effectively. The power is dependent on various factors such as the geographical position and location (Barnett and Duvall 2005). Moreover, the acquisition of the natural resources, the population of the country, along with the tangible and intangible resources that are possessed by the nation has a major role to play (Drezner 2009). For example, US is highly developed in technological fields, along with education, healthcare, space research. The countries in the United States are called the first world countries, since they possess power, knowledge as well as natural resources. Thus, the US is often seen as an epitome of power in the international relations. In the modern world, the role of power is seen within a globalized international system. Countries like USA were found to fight alone during the 2003 Iraq invasion. This was done by the display of military measures of power. Globalization is also seen as a US-dominated phenomenon because it is exercising its power positively. The sanction of the international economic sanctions acts as a useful tool to support authoritarian government in exercising international norms (Kahler 2015). Hence, globalization has acted as a source for hegemonic stateies to display economic supremacy by ignoring human rights and other standard norms. Therefore hegemonic countries impose their believe to rest of the world and other cultures struggle with the rules because they are not equipped economically and militarily and they are compelled to agree with the rule. Moreover, using their economic and military capacity to enforce these rules. For example, United Nations Security council, World Bank, IMF are some of the institutions that hold vast power in IR. Since they were created by United States (US) it gives extra advantage to the US over other states and more authority compared to other states. The power capabilities The power capabilities, that establishes a country at the top of the power pyramid includes the military power, political power, economic power as well as the social power. Military capabilities The power, as defined in the international relations often refers to the military power that a nation possesses. The military weapons and armed forces that a country possesses often highlight the power in a country (Barnett and Duvall 2005). The possession of the nuclear power and large standing army is often highlighted as the face of power in the international relations. Economic capabilities Along with the possession of the military capabilities, the economic capabilities also highlight the display of the international power. Economic strength is one of the major strengths that is possessed by a country, in order to be a leader in the international power world (Drezner 2009). Another measurement that highlights the economic capability of a country in the international market is the gross domestic product (GDP) (Dahl 1957). The total market value of all the goods and services that are produced within the country often highlights the economic strength and capabilities of a country, thus giving the country power. Political capabilities A strong political background, with no or less opposition from the other political parties, will ensure the possession of power in the world. Moreover, countries that are politically unstable will not be able to stand up and protect other countries, during periods of crisis. Hence, political stability and strength has a key role to play in the international relations. Thus, it could be concluded that power has a significant role to play in the identification of the state behavior in the international relations. The possession of military power, economic power, and political power highlights the state behavior in the international relations, in the world. The example of the display of power by hegemonic countries like USA has revealed how globalization has played a role in illustration of power to the world. The power in international relationship has been mainly fulfilled due to strong military and economic capacities of strong countries. Such strengths give extra power to countries to rule the world and engage in international relationship with other countries. References Adler-Nissen, R. and Pouliot, V., 2014. Power in practice: Negotiating the international intervention in Libya. European journal of international relations, 20(4), pp.889-911. Barnett, M. and Duvall, R., 2005. Power in international politics. International organization, 59(1), pp.39-75. Baylis, J., Owens, P. and Smith, S. eds., 2017.The globalization of world politics: An introduction to international relations. Oxford University Press. Berenskoetter, F. and Williams, M.J. eds., 2007. Power in world politics. Routledge. Dahl, R.A., 1957. The concept of power. Systems Research and Behavioral Science, 2(3), pp.201-215. Drezner, D.W., 2009. The power and peril of international regime complexity. Perspectives on politics, 7(1), pp.65-70. Finnemore, M., 2009. Legitimacy, hypocrisy, and the social structure of unipolarity. World Politics, 61(1), pp.58-85. Kahler, M. ed., 2015.Networked politics: agency, power, and governance. Cornell University Press.