Sources of Power

Sources of Power

Great Powers: Sources of Power

Introduction to Sources of Power

Political scientists define power in the international political system as the potential to influence other states. Such potential derives from a mix of elements, both tangible and intangible. These elements include natural resources, industrial capacity, military forces, population size, and popular support for the government. Economic capability determines the military potential of individual states. For this reason, the best single indicator of a state’s great-power potential may be its total gross domestic product (GDP), which measures the total value of goods and services produced in a given time period. The GDP provides a rough indicator of an economy’s size, technological level, and wealth.

Because power derives from enduring characteristics of states, the status of great powers changes very slowly. Britain and France have been great powers for 500 years, Russia and Germany for over 250 years, the United States and Japan for about 100 years, and China for 50 years. Rarely does a great power-even one defeated in a massive war-lose its status as a great power. Since the 16th century, only six other states have possessed great-power status: Italy, Austria (Austria-Hungary), Spain, the Ottoman Empire, Sweden, and The Netherlands.” (1)

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Guide to Sources of Power


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