Why Does Power Matter

The internationalization of our daily lives is increasing rapidly. The essentiality of international relations (IR) can be seen from the choices and chances we make and take every day which ultimately affect the world we live in – every time we watch a news, vote in an election or work on political campaigns, or buy a product or service traded on world markets. Small or big, these choices are unique contributions to the world of IR.
Elements of International Studies: The world we live in happens to be diversified and partitioned – physically, culturally, politically, and economically. Geography and international relations has appeared to have an important connection when states realized the differences they had with other neighboring states.
The causes of the interrelation between the two started when states tried to increase their economies to assure sustainable development through imperialism. It paved its way for states to exercise its authority and domination for self-interest motives. The invaded states now realized that to maintain their freedom from external control, they had to fight. According to Friedrich Ratzel, a state is a living space or Lebensraum – a belief that in order for a state to grow or nourish, a territorial expansion is needed. A perfect example would be the World War II, wherein the Nazis conquered Europe for German expansion. Power means specific assets or material resources that are available to a state.
How does power matter in world affairs? First, power is seen a means of influence governing the kinds of settlements that nations achieve, or circumstances nations must undergo. Second, power could construct political geography, varying the impact of physical distance and differentiating conflicts among nations that are possible from those that are very unlikely. Third, power may be viewed as the determinant for a state’s preferences, which may cause cooperation or opposition. These factors give states the capability to promote national interests, to win an international bargaining, and to shape the rules governing interaction in the global
system. To be secure is to be undisturbed by danger or harm. Security is identified as a core value of human life. The desire to be secured is a form of defense in response to the threat. In the perspective of international society, the great powers have the primary responsibility for providing international security. But there is no assurance that all great powers remain in good faith and act in accordance to international law becomes the recurring problem. In these cases, the security will be put at risk and has the high potential to emerge for wars and other forms of devastations. Evidences of human security paradigm at work are seen in the creation of certain organizations that promote the rule of law, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), the doctrine of responsibility to protect (R2P), etc. There are unavoidable circumstances that have direct consequences but the fact remains that there are measures to prevent the rise of conflict.
Approaches to International Studies: On one hand, the exercise of power by states is explained by a school of thought – Realism.
International politics is driven by an endless struggle for power which has its roots in human nature (Classical), or anarchical system (Structural). It describes the sovereignty as a distinguished trait and is similar with the use of force. Also, if security is absent in a territory, a community is not possible. For Max Weber, “the state has the monopoly of the legitimate use of physical force within a given territory”. On the other hand, the reason and the possibility of progress serve as the foundation of the liberal worldview. In addition, the individual is the seat of moral values and that human beings should be considered not as means but their welfare as final goals. Liberalism emphasized ethical principle over the pursuit of power. Liberals hold the view that politics is more of a struggle for consensus and mutual gain rather than a struggle for power and
prestige. Lastly, the basic assumption of Constructivism is that knowledge, symbols, rules and concepts shape how individuals and societies interpret the world. Originally a social theory and subsequently applied to international politics, these ideas have the capacity to define and transform the organization of world politics. It rejects the idea of realism that the state of anarchy, or the lack of a higher authority or government, is a structural condition of the system of states.
In conclusion, International Relations is strictly defined as the relationship between the world’s governments (Goldstein & Pevehouse, 2006), which cannot be understood in isolation. Governments are closely connected with other actors such as international organizations, transnational and multinational corporations, and individuals. As a field of study, IR is interdisciplinary and has uncertain boundaries, and this is where international studies (IS) come in. International Studies is the practice and application of IR in nature, amalgamating other fields of social sciences such as history, economics, and political science. IS analyzes themes such as poverty, environment, security, human rights, etc. The crucial elements of IS include: a) geography, b) power, and c) security. Thinking theoretically, le the underlying approaches that are appropriate to IS are: a) realism, b) liberalism, and c) constructivism.