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Hard power
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Hard power is a term used in international relations. Hard power is a theory that describes using military and economic means to influence the behavior or interests of other political bodies. It is used in contrast to soft power, which refers to power that comes from diplomacy, culture and history.
Hard power lies at the command end of the spectrum of behaviours and describes a nation's ability to coerce or induce another nation to perform a course of action. This can be done through military power which consists of coercive diplomacy, war and alliance using threats and force with the aim of coercion, deterrence and protection. Alternatively economic power can be used which relies on aid, bribes and economic sanctions in order to induce and coerce.
| Power statuses | Middle power | Regional power | Great power | Superpower | Hyperpower |
|---|---|
| Further geopolitics | African Century | American Century | Asian Century | British Moment | Chinese Century | European Century | Indian Century | Pacific Century |
| Types of power | Soft power | Hard power | Political power | Power (sociology) | Machtpolitik | Realpolitik | Power projection | Polarity in international relations |
| Other | G8+5 | BRIC | BRIMC | Historical powers | Next Eleven | Energy superpower | Power transition theory | Second superpower | SCO | Superpower collapse | Superpower disengagement |
- Kurt Campbell and Michael O'Hanlon, Hard Power: The New Politics of National Security.
- Joseph S. Nye, Jr, Soft Power: The Means to Success in World Politics.
