Discuss the Claim That Power in Global Politics Is Mostly Exercised Through the Use of Force and Threats

Ramatu Musa

Year 12B

Global politics

DISCUSS THE CLAIM THAT POWER IN GLOBAL POLITICS IS MOSTLY EXERCISED THROUGH THE USE OF FORCE AND THREATS.

Power is the capacity to influence the behaviour of people or the cause of an event. The claim that power in global politics is mostly exercised through the use of force and threats. This statement can be verified to some extent, because power can be utilized in different ways in global politics.

Joseph Nye a political scientist coined the phrases Soft power & hard power. Hard power which is the coercive approach to obtaining power through the use of army or military in power, Soft power on the other hand is obtaining power through the use of persuasion or influence, the use of both power is known as Smart power which is through coercion, influence ,military and attraction.

Majority of power in global politics is utilized through the use of soft power, most political organization such as: the united nations operates through influence and persuasion of other countries which is soft power.

Presently global politics, as there are different states with different perspectives of viewing different situations/issues countries try to show the approach of influence, attractions,or leading by example, which is basically using the strategies of soft power The importance of soft power in achieving the political aims of countries is becoming as and relevant as hard power. Therefore the operation of soft power in states has been more effective. The spread of soft power could be due to the effectiveness of hard power in the two famous WW (world war I & II) and the cold war.

The UN which is an example of a Non-state organizations that operates through the use influence and persuasion in order to achieve the goals of the country/state. The United nations do not use coercion or threats to achieve their aims in countries, rather the use of soft power as stated earlier. This benefits different countries trading relationships, this proves that this can bring peace in the world this means that the power in global politics is soft and allows countries to maintain peace amongst themselves, and benefit from each other.

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