POLI 243 Chapter Notes - Chapter 2: Warsaw Pact, Great Power, Industrial Revolution
4 Sep 2016
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The levels of Analysis -- System-Level Arguments
System-Level Theories and the Concept of Power
• Structural Realists use the distribution of power to explain state behavior
o Power:
▪ power over other actors
▪ power over resources
▪ power over events and outcomes
• Dahl's definition of power: control over actors in 3 ways:
o control over actions (coercion, force, bribery, corruption, influence)
o control over the agenda (issues debated, decision made and when they will be
implemented)
o control over preferences (ideological/ cultural power, propaganda)
• measure power? all relative
o ex: USSR seen as powerful due to size of armed forces and equipment, however after
the end of the cold war, reassessment proved that original assumption false
o power = tangible + intangible aspects
▪ Pp- potential power
▪ critical mass of pop and territory
▪ economic capabilities
▪ military power
▪ strategy
▪ will
Power and Structure
• Structural Realists define structure as the distribution of capabilities
o unipolar: distribution is possible, but single major power
▪ complete elimination of rival states
o hegemonic: dominated by a single actor
▪ capable of influence over other states even in the case of not wielding complete
control
o bipolar: 2 poles, 2 strong states, 2 alliances
▪ NATO vs Warsaw Pact
▪ Triple entente vs triple alliance
o tri-polar:3 states hold considerably more power than other members of the system
▪ China (nuclear capabilities, however disputed among political scientists), USSR,
US
o multi-polar
• Waltz: bipolarity is stable. States are rational, power-maximizing units and they will match their
neighbors, which decreases the threat of war
o constrain allies
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