THE POWER APPROACH OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS


The power approach in the study of international politics  evolved from the weakness of the  utopian idealist school of the pre-World War  II era that emphasized the legalistic and institutional approach . The  idealist  believed that the  international  court and the league of nations would  prevent  a war situation. However, the  close  of World War II  the futility of this approach  became evident ,  with  the realist school were Hans Morgenthau C.H  Car, R  Niebhur, George Cannan and Henry Kissinger. Their thesis was that the pursuit of national power is a natural development in the international system.  That those states which do not strive for power encourage  war, for if all state strive for power 
concurrently  peace will  evolve because  the struggle  itself  creates  balance of power and  eliminates hegemony.  In his lucid analysis . Hans Morgenthau in his book, “politics among nations” argued that national interest should best   be defined in terms of power pursuit. In fact, post World War II is power politics and is endless.

Martin Wright noted that in modern interaction political the ideas of power predominates over the idea of right. George Schwazenbenger also, analyzed power as a prime factor   in international   politics. By definition, power is the ability as an actor in the international  scene to use tangible and   intangible  resources and assets in such a way as to  influence the out come of international events to its own satisfaction. Power is a means to an end and it may at times become an end in itself. The possession of power is meaningless if its possession influence attitude, roles and policies.   

The analyses ranges from the country’s strategic location through economic, diplomatic, national orientation and military capabilities. Thus, the united states  bombing  of  Hiroshima and Nagaski (Japan), Tripoli and Benghazi  (Libya) carting of Noriega, a sovereign leader from panama, invading of Grenada  getting the UN  security council to pass resolutions in quick succession against Iraq in Kwait, operation “desert shield” and  “desert  storm”,  Saddam Husseins illegal  occupation of Kwait , Nigerians  ECOMOG  politics in Liberia, soviet union in Afghanistan etc, could be explained within the power frame work. The problem with this approach is that it considers other issues like morality and legalism irrelevant. It also looks so radical, as it tends to argue that power is the only way a state can achieve its national  interest without have accidents.
Share on Google Plus

Declaimer - Unknown

The publications and/or documents on this website are provided for general information purposes only. Your use of any of these sample documents is subjected to your own decision NB: Join our Social Media Network on Google Plus | Facebook | Twitter | Linkedin

READ RECENT UPDATES HERE