POLI 244 Lecture Notes - Lecture 5: Hilter, Materiel, Great Power
21 Feb 2016
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Document Summary
Many powers have risen and fallen through the centuries. These trajectories overlap, give rise to rivalries. As one power declines, other powers rise to overcome them. Conquering territory captures resources that feed an empire (ie: oil, Colonies and allies contribute materiel and personnel to an empire raw materials) Overreach (napoleon & hitler invading russia: trying to conquer too. Domestic unrest much; both tried to invade russia during their winter) 1938: annexation of austria and czech sudetenland. September 1, 1939: invasion of poland; wwii begins. Nazis gained territory for settlement ( lebensraum ), natural resources, forward operating bases; denied these to enemies. Hegemony : preponderant influence and authority over others. Great powers strive to achieve this via military and economic means. Components of military power are land, naval, air and nuclear forces. Balancing requires states to commit to matching an opponent"s. Deterrence is key, involves using the threat of war to deter an strength opposing power.
