Elements of National Power

National power can be equated with the entirety of a state’s effectiveness in

international politics. The content of National power relies on the combination of so
many elements and relative factors that it is very difficult to find out any accurate
and final list at any given period of time. Despite this difficulty there has been some
agreement about certain elements of national power and even about their
classification into stable and unstable, tangible and intangible, human and non-
human etc. More possession of these elements do not determine a nation’s power
hence they should not be termed as the determinants of power as many scholars call
them. What determines power is the proper and efficient utilization of these
elements. At best they can be called as elements or factors or components of national
power.
The tangible elements of National Power are population,geography,natural
rsources,agricultural capacity and military strength; while the intangible elements
are leadership,ideology,social cohesiveness,national character and diplomacy. The
following are the discussion of tangible and intangible elements.
TANGIBLE ELEMENTS
1.Population:
Population is basic element which affect national power.The term population does
not only direct towards the number of people living in a state but it is a term that
encapsulates age, ethnicity and other demographic factors. while a large population
is an important factor that decides national power, it is not the primary factor.
Having a large population is only effective as long as the population can contribute
to the nation’s betterment in agriculture, industries and even military.
On that scenario the large but contributory population of China and USA has a
comparative advantage over the population of India which does not entirely
contribute. However states like Japan and Singapore are blessed with their
productive population despite being less in numbers. In most small and developing
states high population growth has become a hindrance to achieve more national
power because it leads to poverty, unrest and insecurity. Their population growth is
very high that these states do not possess adequate resources to thrive its people. At
the same time the ethnic diversity in most of these states often result in ethnic strife
which poses adverse effects on the enhancement of power. For example multi-ethnic
Sri Lanka underwent a three decade long ethnic conflict, a time and resources that
were spent would have been sufficient for it to gain more power. In the contrary less
diverse population of Sweden contributes to its peaceful lifestyle.
2.Geography:
“The foreign policy of a country is determined by its geography”_Napoleon
It is another tangible element of National Power.Geography has been a bane and a
boon for politics and international relations throughout history.But its influence is
undisputedly accepted. The unchanging influence exerted by geography including,
the size of the land,the location,boundries on international relations despite the
advancement of other spheres of influence is significant. The best proof of this
influence is the birth of a new field of study as “geopolitics” which directs to the
study of politics in relation to geography. Geopolitics decides how various factors
of a state’s geography determine a state’s foreign policy options and its position in
the hierarchy of stats. Size
is a geographical element of National Power.The large size of a country can
accommodate a large population, offer better natural resources and raw materials,
and can be more helpful in the defense of a country. A large size can help the country
to defend by retreat in the event of an attack. It is definitely more difficult for a state
to defeat a big country. It was also the large size of the Soviet Union that helped it
to defeat the forces of Hitler.
Location of a nation can be helping as well as a hindering factor for its national
power. It determines whether a nation can be a sea-power or not. England could
become a big naval power and thereby an imperial power because of its location.
The location of Japan has helped it to be a major ship- building nation. Location of
Germany in the heart of Europe has been a sources of strength for it.
The location of the USA also helped it to adopt (1823-1945) and follow the policy
of isolationism. Further, its location, being relative to land as well as seas, has helped
it to be a both land and sea power. The location of Switzerland has been instrumental
in securing for it the status of a permanently neutralized state. Middle East and
Continental Europe have been the potential zones of power rivalry because of their
geographic and strategic locations.
Location of Canada has hindered its emergence as a great power. Hence, a
favourable geographical location among other things can help a nation to be
powerful and an unfavorable location can limit the national power.
Boundary is also a geographic factor of national power.Settled and natural boundries
are always a source of friendly and cooperative relations among the nations of a
region.Undefined and disputed boundries are potent sources of conflict which
weakens national power.
Mahan wrote in “The Influence of Sea Power upon History, 1600-1783”how naval
power was the key to national power in the contemporary world and how a state with
the authority in high seas can have the authority in international relations. This factor
can easily be proved by the naval power of contemporary super powers, especially
the UK. Their naval power helped them discover new lands and their establishment
of colonies around the world made them the greatest empire wielding immense
power. Similarly in 1919 Mackinder added to Mahan’s thesis by his famous
“Hartland Theory” in which he argued that the state that controlled the territory
between Germany and Siberia, bound by Volga River, the Arctic Ocean, the Yangtze
River and the Himalaya mountain range could control the world both geographically
and politically.
“Who rules Eastern Europe commands the Heartland. Who rules the Heartland
commands the world-Island (Eurasia-Africa). Who rules the world-island
commands the World”.

Everyone accepts that geography is an important element of National Power.

However, its role can be both helpful and hindering. Ideal geographical conditions
can be a source of strength and negative and hindering geographical factors can be
a source of weakness for the national power.Further,role of geography as an element
of national power is linked with several other elements, like population, level of
scientific and industrial development, means of transport and communication. In
fact, scientific inventions and technologic problems and hindrances. Geography is
an element but not an independent determinant of national power.al innovations have
made it possible for man to adjust with and overcome geographical problems and
hindrances. Geography is an element but not an independent determinant of national
power.

3.Natural Resource and Raw material:

Natural Resources and Raw Materials are also tangible elements of national power.
According to Palmer and Perkins natural resources and raw materials are “gifts of
nature “including minerals, flora and fauna and soil. These resources are assets
which have a potential value not only at times of war but in the constant course of
economy, industrial activities and a state’s interaction with the international system.
Natural resources are not equally distributed in the world creating interdependence
among state for natural resources.
A newly industrialized state (NIC) like Singapore and an industrial state like Japan’s
almost complete dependence on natural resources is a good example. Only one fifth
of Japan comprises of cultivable land and it imports a majority of natural resources
including oil, rubber and metals. The dependence of a state on a crucially important
natural resource can impose limitations to its national power. For example the
dependence of the entire world for crude oil on the Middle East gives much power
to the OPEC states. Even a super power like the USA has to succumb to this
dependence as during the Yom Kippur War in 1973 when USA was forced to retreat
from some territories such as Golan Heights and Sinai Peninsula due to the oil crisis
and the embargo imposed by the OPEC.
The obsession of the USA regarding the Middle East States such as Iraq and Libya
and their attempts to conquer them is best understood in the light of their attempt to
claim for their oil reserves thus ending the dependence because it is perhaps the only
element of power that USA lacks. But the mere possession of natural resources is
not sufficient unless a state is capable to turn it to an actual power. That is the reason
why the less powerful states of the tropical zone despite their abundance in natural
resources have failed to acquire relatively sufficient national power.
Lack of technological expertise, ignorance and strategy are main reasons behind this
failure because the best use of natural resources can be achieved with its effective
fusion with technology. That is precisely why the USA has reaped advantages of its
availability of natural resources and advanced technology which has helped to
elevate itself to the position of a super power while tropical states with natural
resources, such as most African states with diamond and gold mines and Asian states
still remain comparatively powerless. A wide variety of resources in these states,
such as oil reserves, maritime resources such as rare metals, gems and diamonds
remain unexplored. The advancement of technology and the industrialization have
increased the demand for natural resources and raw materials.
Palmer and Perkins defined raw materials as opposed to natural resources as
something to be produced themselves such as rubber and cotton. However these two
terms are defined, they are equally important for economy and war. Even a former
French Prime Minister Georges Clemenceau once said “One drop of oil is worth one
drop of blood of our soldiers”.
In early history the possession of coal and steel,two important raw materials made
UK and some other European states super powers. Even the European Union(EU)
was born in 1951 as an economic integration between states that possessed these two
raw materials(European Coal and Steel Community-ECSC).However the discovery
of crude oil in the Middle East transformed this power position with UK losing a
considerable amount of its power. Today the necessity of oil in all spheres including
transportation,industries,energy and even in war has given so much power and
wealth to the oil exporting states. They have thrived and developed solely on
petrodollars that crude oil brings home. States like Saudi Arabia today are some of
the most developed states in the world with world’s tallest skyscrapers and best
hotels and resorts. Their power was best shown, as previously mentioned, during the
Oil Crisis of 1973.
Other important mineral resources include cobalt, quartz and even uranium and
plutonium. Iran’s possession of uranium mines within their territory, in
Saghand,Gachin and Yazd has fuelled their nuclear research. Presently Crimea’s
richness in crude oil has brought it to the attention of Russia and the reason why
many Asian states like China and Laos claim for Spratley island is also to claim its
natural resources as a potential element to enhance national power. However now
the depletion of crude oil reserves has turned the focus of the world to renewable
energy sources that are generated from other natural resources such as water and sun
light. The former Secretary General of the United Nations Dr. Boutros Ghali
famously said that “the next war in the Middle East will be fought over water, not
politics”.
(4)Agricultural Capacity:
Agricultural Capacity is also another element of national power. Food determines
policies. The existence of large stocks of food grains and surplus food production
can be a source of vital strength of a nation. A nation deficient in food production
can rarely become a major power, that’s why African states are weak because of
shortage of food. According to Hans Morgenthau “Nations self-sufficient in food are
better placed than nation which import food”.Food shortage leads to power shortage.
Acute food problem is a big source of weakness for all developing countries. It is
keeping them dependent upon developed states who have surplus food productions,
like Poor African states dependent upon developed countries for food. A nation-
state, which is depending upon the food and agriculture supply from the foreign
states, does not almost at the cost of her national independence. Likewise the
developing and under-developed countries of Asia and Africa can not pursue their
independent foreign policies due to the shortage of food stuff and agricultural
products. The military preparedness of a nation is also dependent upon adequate
supplies of food. A popular Saying is “Armies travel on their stomach “Countries
that can feed themselves, especially over the course a long war, will be relatively
more powerful than countries that are less self-sufficient.

5.Militry Strength:
Centuries before G. Lowes Dickinson pointed out the absurdity of reliance of every
state on power was “to defend itself from attack”. In such a context military power
has become a vital element of national power.
Military strength is the most apparent and tangible factor capable of supporting the
foreign policy and promoting national interest. The strength of military and
technology of warfare have mostly determine the fate of nations for which the
superior states occupy the boundaries of the inferior states and ceased them to exist.
For example, during the WWII Germany used their battleships to showcase their
military power. Another related example is the USA employing gun-boat diplomacy
in the US-Cuba conflict. Even today the states which posses the nuclear weapons are
more powerful than their competitors. Military power has always brought changes
at both national and international level. Although military power is expected to be
used as the last resort, its very possession, though practically used or not has a huge
impact. States like USA and Russia are considered powerful states not only due to
their economy and other tangible and intangible resources. But their real influence
is exerted by their possession of world class armies. Even the small state of Israel is
a power of Middle East. States that possess nuclear power have an enormous
advantage over non-nuclear powers. India and Pakistan despite their scarcity of other
elements have much power and influence due to their nuclear arsenals. The
traditional indicator of military strength is a nation-state’s ability to transport an
effectively support military operations on land, sea and air. The military might
cannot be assessed by the allocation of huge funds or by the number of forces, but
the factors-such as readiness,training,leadership morale, attitude of military
personnel,quality,adaptability and source of equipment may affect the performance
of armed forces in a given situation. Similarly a very large,illequiped and ill trained
army can proves weak.

(b)INTANGIBLE ELEMENTS
1.Leadership:
Leadership is an essential element of national power.The utilization of man power
resources, natural resources, raw materials, technology, industrial capacity, military
power and ideology for strengthening the national power of a state is dependent upon
the qualities of the leadership that runs the government of the state. A nation-state
cannot be emerged or it cannot even exist without the able leadership. Pakistan came
into being by the untiring struggle and wise strategy of Quaid-e-Azam.Leaders like
Hitler,Napoleon,Stalin,Roosevelt,Maozetung have made great impact on world
history. Civil and Military
planning is a function of the political leaders. To make and implement foreign policy
is the responsibility of the leadership, the decision-makers of the state, in particular.
National Power is basically the power of the leaders, statesmen and diplomats of the
nation to act strongly in international relations.
The quality of leadership determines the nature and extent of power that a nation
can use for securing its national interests. Efficient, devoted and mature leadership
can be a source of national power in the sense that a judicious use of power can
surely increase the national power and its operational effectiveness.
2. Ideology:
Ideology is an intangible element of national power. It can be a source of both
friendship and enmity in international relations. “Ideas and ideologies are elements
of the power of a state.” Pen is mightier than sword or at least pen has a might which
can be a source of strength for a nation. The ideology that a government upholds can
be a source of unity and support of the people at home and abroad. The ideology of
communism served as a big source of strength for the communist states between
1917-90.
Ideology helps a nation to influence the exercise of its power. It serves as a source
of unity and strength both at home and abroad. However, a choice of wrong ideology
can be a source of weakness. Nazism weakened Hitler’s Germany and Fascism did
the same to Mussolini’s Italy. Further, ideological differences within a nation, as
well as among different nations can be a source of weakness.
Capitalism Vs. Communism paved the way for the emergence of a cold war between
the West and the East. It kept the powers of two super powers conditioned and
limited. The ability of the nation to use several ideological principles always
determines its national power.
While evaluating the role of ideology as an element of national power, we must also
take into account the means which a state has as its disposal for advertising and
propagating the ideology.
3.Social Cohesiveness:
The term social cohesion refers to the bonds, that holds a society together, often
through common values, beliefs, and behaviors. Strong bonds indicate a higher level
of social cohesion as shown by large percentages of the population following the
rules of the society and displaying tolerance for one another. It is also demonstrated
by cooperation by different groups within the community, particularly when
working towards something that will benefit the society as a whole. In a cohesive
society, individuals are apt to see themselves as a part of a greater whole, and to act
in a way that upholds the accepted values of the society even if they don't personally
agree. If a nation having more social cohesiveness it will have more national power.
Denmark is the best example of social cohesiveness because it is a homogeneous
country.
4.National Character and Morale:
(i) National Character:
An important but intangible element of national power is national character. National
character is a collective name for referring to the traits of the people, their attitude
and aptitude towards work and national needs. National character undoubtedly
influences national power as it manifests qualitative make up of the people in their
actual behavior.
Scholars tell us that Russians are known for their sturdiness, elementary force and
persistence. Americans for their inventiveness, initiative and spirit of adventure.
Britishers for their un-dogmatic common sense, and Germans for discipline and
industriousness, Japanese for their nationalism, Indians for their tolerance, idealism
and faith in rich cultural traditions and Chinese for their cosmic un-changeability.
Traits of national character definitely influence the national power of a nation.
(ii) National Morale:
Along with national character, national morale is also an element of national power.
National morale, in the context of national power, refers to
‘the degree of determination with which a nation supports the foreign policy of its
government in peace and war, it permeates all activities of a nation, its agriculture
and industrial productions as well as its military establishments and diplomatic
service.” (Morgenthau)
High morale means a healthy frame of mind characterized by fidelity to cause and it
depends upon a combination of circumstances and the quality of leadership, and can
be subject to frequent and sometimes sudden fluctuations. Indian morale became
quite low after severe reverses in Sino- Indian War of 1962.
A high and healthy national morale can be a big source of power which can lead to
successful use of power for securing the national interest. The high morale of
Pakistan army was a factor in the victory of 1965 with India. National character and
morale are elements of national power but their role can be positive or negative.
Morale is closely related with leadership. It is greatly influenced by the personality
of the leader and his dramatic words and daring actions. For example Zulfiqar Ali
Bhutto, the Prime Minister of Pakistan mounting the morale of Pakistani nation with
his devoted words and Pakistan became a nuclear power. Winston Churchill, the
Prime Minister of United Kingdom and Franklin D. Roosevelt, the President of
United States, with many unforeseen incidents of war, had affected the national
morale of their respective people during the world wars.
5.Diplomacy:
Diplomacy is another important element of national power. Hans J. Morgenthau
regards it as the most important, though unstable element of national power.
Diplomacy is the means of foreign policy and as such helps it to achieve better results
through judicious hard work and persuasion in international relations. Success of
foreign policy of a nation largely depends upon the quality of Diplomacy that takes
it to foreign capitals.
Diplomacy of high quality can bring the ends and means of foreign policy into
harmony with the available resources of national power. It can trap the hidden
sources of national strength and transform these fully and squarely into political
realities.
British diplomacy has been instrumental in projecting Britain as a major power in
world politics, even after the loss of its status as a mighty imperial power. During
the inter-war period, the USA was politically and militarily very strong but it played
a minor role in world politics because of its weak diplomacy. At times, weak
diplomacy has acted as a source of weakness for India.
The role of diplomacy as an element of national power has undergone a big change
in contemporary times. The emergence of new diplomacy open and conference
diplomacy, has somewhat limited its role as a factor of national power. A diplomacy
of high quality can effectively contribute towards an effective and successful
exercise of national power.
Conclusion: