The Major Types of Power in the International Arena: Structural Power, Power of Interdependence, “Hard” and “Soft” Power
https://doi.org/10.53658/RW2024-4-4(14)-20-33
Abstract
One of the most ambivalent and complex concepts in world politics is power, which is intangible. There are numerous approaches and interpretations of power. This paper presents the author’s hierarchy of types of power, which includes structural power, complex interdependence, “hard” and “soft power”. For each, the main methodological challenges and prospects for operationalization (including quantitative assessment) of these indicators are presented. It is demonstrated that the distinction between different types of power is conditional. The relationship between the use of one or another power is determined by the national strategic culture. The example of global competition between the United States and China is used to illustrate the distinctive features of the strategies employed by each country to project their respective power.
About the Author
D. A. Degterev
Institute for African Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
Denis A. Degterev - DSc. (Polit.), CandSc. (Econom.). Professor. Leading Research Fellow,
30/1, Spiridonovka str., Moscow, 123001.
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Review
For citations:
Degterev D.A. The Major Types of Power in the International Arena: Structural Power, Power of Interdependence, “Hard” and “Soft” Power. Russia & World: Sc. Dialogue. 2024;(4):20-33. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.53658/RW2024-4-4(14)-20-33
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