National Power: The Secret Weapons of International Politics!

Introduction:

The concept of national power is related to political activity. It is also a part of the nation-state. Today national power is considered as a means to achieve economic and political objectives. That is, power is a special means by which a state implements its domestic and foreign policies. All states have powers. However, there is a wide difference between them in terms of quantity and type. During the Cold War era, the military power or capability of the superpowers was considered most important. But in the post-Cold War period, military power was replaced by economic power. Yet no single element of national power is separate from the others but interrelated.

Instruments of national power:  

The geopolitical and strategic position of a state is very important as a determinant of national power. One of the main components of national power is geography, which has been recognized internationally. According to geopolitics, geography determines a nation’s power and thereby its destiny. Prof. In the words of Hans J. Morgenthau, “The most stable factor upon which the power of a nation depends is geography.” [Politics among nations, The struggle for power and peace, p. 106] It affects national power in several ways. The elements of national power are discussed in the following discussion:

1. Geographical Location: The geographical location of a country determines its power and role in international politics. If a country is situated in such a way that it is distant from the contemporary great powers, it can manage its own national life. Conversely, if a country’s position is such that the interests of contemporary great powers are involved, that position will strongly influence its foreign and defense policy. The disadvantage of a buffer state situated between two great powers is mainly due to its geographical location. Landlocked countries suffer many disadvantages due to their geographical location. On the other hand, coastal countries enjoy many additional benefits. Moreover, a country’s foreign policy is influenced by its coastline.
2. Size of the country: Another geographical aspect on which national power depends is the size of a country, naturally a country with a large size has more power. For example, the former Soviet Union and the United States both own vast territories. It was considered a permanent asset of their national power. Because their vast expanses were considered capable of defeating any desire to invade these two countries from outside. Napoleon and Hitler did not succeed in conquering Russia, but the Russian campaign was a defeat for both of them.
3. Shape of the country: The shape of a country has a relationship with its size. Generally, a tight shape with the same volume is more convenient than a loosely spaced shape. For example, a medium-sized country like France, which is more spherical and has its capital in the middle, is an example of an ideal state for increasing national power.
4. Topography: Topography is also one of the geographical elements. Because the high and low topography of Bandhu disrupts the transportation system of the country. But in a country that has vast plains, political and cultural unity is easily developed among the people of that country due to the convenience of communication and transportation system, which plays an important role in increasing national power.
5. Climate: The climate of a country affects its national strength to some extent. The climate of a country depends on the health, strength, and performance of its people. This is why it can be seen that the people of some countries are more active, while the people of many countries are lazy and averse to work. Temperate climates generally contribute to national development by instilling more activity in the population. On the other hand, heavy rains, no rains, cyclones, floods, earthquakes, etc. disrupt the national development of many countries.
6. Population: Population has an important influence on national strength. Professor Morganthu said, that if all the necessary elements of national power are there, but if there is a shortage of population, then the country’s power is unlikely to increase. Not only the population but also the financial standard of the people, health, education, modern technical skills, productive capacity, diligence, discipline, and relatively young population add to the amount of national energy. Hence, a desirable population of militarily trained people is a prerequisite for national strength.
7. Natural Resources: If a country is weak in natural resources, that country can’t become a great power. Natural resources as components of national energy can be divided into two categories. Namely: food and raw materials. Countries that are not self-sufficient in food remain a weakness in the international arena. While importing food, the government is often forced to adopt policies that are not favorable to the country, which weakens the energy. On the other hand, modernization of the military requires important mineral resources such as uranium, rubber, mineral oil, aluminum, plutonium, etc., apart from high-quality steel.
8. Industrial Improvement: Improved industrial structure or economic development is the main instrument for increasing the national strength of a country. Capital, technical skills, organizational skills, and modern knowledge of information and technology are needed for the economic development of the country using natural resources and raw materials. Basically, without economic development, no country can become a major power in the international arena. For example, the status of the USA as a national power has been achieved only through the economic development and industrial development of the country.
9. Military Power: The military power of any country is considered one of the elements of national power of that country. Because it is possible to fight foreign invasion by this military. Apart from this, it is a very important factor as the military is directly dependent on the total population of the armed forces. To increase the military power, the efficiency of the military forces must be increased and the efficient and competent leadership of the military forces is also important. Because the military can conquer a nation through the art of warfare. Therefore, the power of the military is dependent on competent leadership.

Apart from the above elements, there are several other elements of national power, which are discussed below:

1. Political structure: One of the elements of national power is political structure. Morganthu said that foreign policy implementation without a fair or good government will fail. A democratic government determines a country’s policies with public support. Adoption of a policy against the people’s disapproval leads to mass agitation against the government, which seriously weakens national power.
2. Value of Diplomacy: Other instruments of national power are integrated and properly managed through diplomacy. Scholars consider diplomacy to be the brain of national power. And confidence is his soul. Diplomacy helps in coordinating the goals and means of foreign policy.
3. National Character and Self-Confidence: National strength mainly depends on national character and morale. For example, in World War II, despite Hitler’s massive air raids, the British survived through national morale and self-confidence. The French, on the other hand, were forced to surrender to Hitler’s forces despite a near-impenetrable structure such as the Maginot Line due to a lack of morale.
4. International prestige: International prestige is a country’s domestic and foreign policy, military power, economic capacity, ability to help other countries, national culture, political independence, etc., increase its status in the international arena. It increases national power.
5. Economic Strength: National strength is directly dependent on the economic strength of the state. A country that is strong in economy is strong in other elements of the country. As a result, the national power of such a state is strengthened.
6. Education and Technological Progress: Education, information, and technological progress act as gauges of national strength. Education, information, and technological advancements help the overall development of the country. Therefore, the more advanced the state is in education, information, and technology, the more powerful the state is and the stronger its national power is.
7. International Position: It helps to determine the position of the state and its power at the international level in world politics. A country’s power also largely depends on the international situation and its relations with other countries and various alliances. Sometimes a relatively weak state can become very powerful by receiving military assistance from a foreign power. For example, Korea, and Israel. The social component of national power, culture, and ideology is seen as one of the components. Social factors govern political life.

That is, if the people of a country belong to the same caste or religion, then they can unite and achieve national goals very easily. It can be seen in the case of culture, the stronger the nation is the holder and bearer of culture. Apart from that, no state can be strong in national power without specific goals and ideals. That is why ideology is considered an element of national strength.

Role of Power and Ideology as Determinants of International Politics:

International politics is particularly influenced by power and ideology. According to Professor Friedman, most international conflicts in politics are caused by a combination of power politics and ideology.

Role of Power:

The role of power as a determinant of international politics is discussed below:

1. Abundance of resources: In international politics, the power that a state builds around its abundance of resources is a little different. For example, energy is manifested based on geographical location, natural resources, mineral oil, coal, etc. of different countries. Therefore, the power gained through the abundance of resources strongly influences international politics.
2. Influence of Nationalist Forces: Nationalist forces of various states and peoples of the world have been controlling international politics since ancient times. For example, the Germans were motivated by nationalism and thought that they were the greatest nation on earth. They have the right to rule over the other nations of the earth. This sense of nationalism is the name of national power.
3. Influence of Power: Mainly personal power or power also controls international politics. A look at history shows that the conflict between popes and emperors in Europe during the Middle Ages was an expression of personal power. Apart from that, Napoleon’s autocratic monopolies, and Mussolini’s and Hitler’s monopolies are manifestations of personal power.
4. Effects of Diplomatic Power: Diplomatic techniques are also regarded as manifestations of power in international politics. That is, the ability of a state to control the internal or external affairs of another state through various diplomatic techniques can also be identified as a type of power. Thus, it appears that the manifestation of power in international politics takes place in different ways. And through this self-expression, power gets the opportunity to determine international politics.
5. Abundance of Manpower and Arms: When a nation becomes strong with an abundance of manpower or arms it creates fear among other powers. Powers that can be achieved by creating this fear include power in the international arena. Again, if a power tries to guide the people of its own country and other countries in a certain way according to its wishes or convenience and is successful, then it can also be included in the international field of power.

The Influence of Ideology:

International politics is not only influenced by power or power. Because in today’s era, any dispute or problem in the international field cannot be analyzed only by force. At present, along with energy, therefore, one element acts, and that is ideal. Indeed, the strength of a nation is its effort to implement its national ideals. The impact of idealism as a determinant of international politics is discussed below:

1. Influence of Idealism in the Cold War: The rise of the Bolsheviks to state power in the Soviet Union through the Russian Revolution in 1917 infused a new energy and impetus into the socialist movement throughout the world. Soviet Russia endeavored to spread Marxist-Leninist ideals worldwide. Its reaction was quickly felt in the capitalist and colonial countries of the West. These countries advanced against Soviet policy in the name of democratic ideals. They describe the Soviet ideology as authoritarian and are active in adopting various international measures to protect democracy. Thus the conflict between socialism and Western democracy was complicated by the Soviet Union. This conflict or Cold War between the two camps is largely driven by idealism.
2. The influence of democracy and communist ideals in international politics: After the fall of Nazism and fascism after the Second World War, democracy and communism took their place. Democracy and Communism emerged as the main regulators of international politics. The conflict between the Eastern and Western Blocs is essentially a clash of ideologies as an outgrowth of the Cold War of the past. This conflict is the conflict between capitalism and communism. The ideal of communist states is to establish a communist society without class discrimination. On the other hand, Western European countries want to establish democratic, capitalist, or liberal capitalism. Movements, revolutions, rebellions, and wars arise in the world based on these two ideals. In the modern world, the democratic socialism of the Eastern Bloc and the democratic capitalism of the Western Bloc are manifestations of the ideals of different states.
3. The Traditional Influence of Ideology: The role of ideology behind various conflicts in international politics is evident in ancient, medieval, and even modern times. The main objective of the Crusades in the Middle Ages was to recover the burial site of Jesus Christ from the Muslims and to establish the supremacy of Christianity. In the seventeenth century, the establishment of the monopoly of various royal classes in Europe.
4. Idealism in Controlling Social and Political Lifestyle: In the distant past, idealism played an important role in controlling the social and political lifestyle of people. In the present century, idealism continues to play a more important role in international politics as well as in national politics than in the past. According to Joseph Rusek, it is not the first time that new ideologies have arisen in our era, nor is it the first time that ideological conflict has become apparent in our era. But in no other period did such a multifaceted doctrine flourish except during the Crusades of the sixteenth century. In no age has the conflict of idealism attained such depth and taken such complex forms.
5. Inspiration for freedom struggle: The influence of idealism in international politics was not limited to the countries of Europe and America; In addition, it had a great influence on the territory of Asia and Africa. Nationalist and anti-imperialist ideals greatly inspired the freedom struggle of the people of colonial countries in Asia and Africa. As a result of such struggle, many new states emerged all over the world. Idealism in international politics has both good and bad sides. Idealism can be used to promote the true welfare of mankind; It can also be used to create conflict and war in the international arena. Effective application of idealism depends on the goodwill and foresight of statesmen.

Importance of geographical location and natural resources as elements of national power:

The role of geographical location and natural resources of a country as elements of national power in determining the country’s position in the international arena is discussed below-

Geographical Location:

Among the sources or elements of national power, the most reliable and permanent element is the geographical location and characteristics of a state. Morgenthau’s statement in this context is, “The most stable factor upon which the power of a nation depends is geography”. However, the geographical element has several aspects. For example, the national power of a country and its role in the international arena is largely determined by its position vis-à-vis its neighboring states and centers of power. It has several aspects. For example:

1. Position relative to the center of power:

The special aspects of this type of position are:

First, when a state is located away from internationally conflicted regions or states, its national security is naturally less likely to be compromised. e.g.: New Zealand.

Second, when a state is located in a region where the interests of the great powers are intertwined, that country will naturally fall into the crosshairs of international politics. And in many cases, he can be the scapegoat. One example of this is Afghanistan, the Middle East, etc.

Thirdly, when a state is located with several important states or regions, that state is already involved in various fields including politics, economy, and culture of those regions, which affect its national power. For example, the country was an important factor in the politics of the former Soviet Union in Europe, the Middle East, and the Far East, as it bordered these regions.

2. Position in terms of oceans:

A country’s trade and naval power depend on its borders and access to the oceans. Countries that are easily accessible by waterways are at an advantage over landlocked countries. For example: Bangladesh is in an advantageous position because of the Bay of Bengal between the two countries Nepal and Bangladesh. Especially in the foreign policy of a country, this issue has a special effect. e.g.: The Soviet Union has been following the “Warm Water Outlet Policy” since Tsarist times. Because there is no other way to enter the Black Sea from the Mediterranean except through the Dardanelles and the Bosphorus Straits.

3. Location in Geographical Perspective:

Geographical location also has a great impact on a country’s security policy and strategy. E.g.: With two nuclear-powered neighbors like Pakistan on one side and China on the other, India always has to follow a strict security policy and any change in the security policy of one of them affects the security policy of the other.

The shape of the state:

The shape of the state greatly influences the security policy and strategy of a country and its position in the international arena. Generally, large countries are in a relatively advantageous position in this regard. e.g.: Due to the large size of the Soviet Union, enemies were always afraid of taking over this country. Both Napoleon and Hitler failed to conquer the country.

Climate of the state:

The climate of a country also depends on its geographical location and climate plays an important role in determining national strength. Generally, countries in the temperate zone are in an advantageous position. For example, we can talk about Britain in this case.

Borders of the state:

A country’s borders can be a touchy factor in determining its national power. Because border issues involve questions of independence, sovereignty, and security of a country. In this case, the countries which have borders with five or six countries, those countries are relatively more vulnerable than countries that share a border with only one country, such as Bangladesh. Moreover, countries isolated from other territories; for example: Britain, Japan, etc., or sub-continental countries; e.g.: It is also debated whether Russia is in a more advantageous position than Germany.

Natural resources as an element of national strength:

Natural resources are very important in the national strength of a country. It has a positive effect most of the time but can also have a negative effect at times. For example:

Firstly, countries that are rich in natural resources are relatively more powerful. Countries rich in energy resources in particular enjoy more advantages in negotiations in the international arena. However undiscovered natural resources under the ground do not carry much importance in this regard. When a country can discover and exploit its natural resources and establish its ownership by applying appropriate technology, it helps to increase national power.

But when the country fails to establish ownership, then this natural resource is of no use to the country. Similarly, while the vast natural resources of the Middle East are good news for the countries of the region economically, oil resources are now a major threat to the people of the region; this has made the region a potential source of World War III.

Secondly, Countries that are rich in raw materials and able to transform raw materials into final products can easily grow in economic power.

Thirdly, self-sufficiency in natural resources, especially food, is an important factor in a country’s national strength. Because if the people cannot be fed, all the other powers become meaningless, one example of which is the former Soviet Union.

It is evident from the above discussion that, although many elements work as elements of national strength in determining the position of a country in the international arena, geographical location and natural resources play an important role. If the state is big, then strategically that state gets many advantages. And if a country is full of natural resources, then that country is also strong in the international arena.

Conclusion:

From the above discussion, we can say that world politics became tense in the decades after the Second World War and the main reason for this was the participation of several states in the competition to increase national power. The international situation became increasingly tense day by day due to the expansion of the national power of several states. In other words, the world’s international conflicts were caused by a mixture of power and ideology. Therefore, the role of power and ideology as regulators of international politics is very important.