Power: 4.5: Elements of National Power

POWER
4.5: Elements Of National Power

Geography
• Amongst the elements of National Power, geography is the

most stable, tangible, permanent and natural element.
• Geography is considered as the determining factor of interna-
tional politics.
• “The foreign policy of a country is determined by its
geography” Napoleon Bonaparte.
• Geography includes map, size, location, topography, climate,
and boundaries of nation-state.
Natural Resources
• Natural resources include Raw Materials/Minerals and maximum Food

production.
• The industrial and military capabilities of a nation as well as its eco-
nomic well-being are dependent upon the existence of natural re-
sources. Natural resources, in the form of minerals, fertile soil, flora
and fauna, through planned exploitation and use always make a
nation powerful.
• A self-sufficiency in certain key resources can be a big source of
power of a nation and no nation can be powerful without becoming
a developed industrialized nation and the chances of becoming an in-
dustrialized nation are basically linked with the possession of natural
resources, particularly industrial raw materials and minerals.
Population
• Another basic element which affects national power is population.

• Manpower continues to be a key factor which determines the in-
dustrial and military capacities of a nation and its status as a
power in international relations.
1. Population is an important element of military power.
2. Man power is needed for fully exploiting the resources of the
state. Industrial production depends upon man-power as well as
machines.
3. Population factor determines both national needs as well as poli-
cies designed to serve these needs.
4. Population is an important human element of National Power.
Economic Development
• Effective economic organization and planning are essential
qualities of a powerful nation.
• Poverty is always a source of limitation of power. It is this factor
which has been largely forcing most of the developing countries of
the Third World to live with neo-colonialism.
• Only nations with developed economies can use the economic
instruments—aid, loan, rewards, trade, grants and denial of re-
wards or punishment, for securing their desired goals in
international relations.
• By using economic means a nation tries to exercise its national
power in a productive and useful way. The level of economic
well-being determines the power of a nation.
Industrial Capacity
• In this age of science, industrialization and technology developed in-

dustrial capacity alone can be a source of enduring and effective eco-
nomic development.
• Only industrially advanced nations can become great powers. To-
day, the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Japan and Ger-
many are powerful nations because of their huge industrial capaci-
ties. They have the ability to process raw materials, and thereby are in
a position to control international economy. India is now emerging as
an industrial power.
• Industrial capacity of a nation is thus an important factor of national
power. Industrial backwardness, despite the possession of raw materi-
als, can be a source of weakness for any nation.
Technology
• Technology is the application of knowledge of science for promot-
ing human welfare.
• It is the ability to use scientific inventions for the promotion of human
welfare.
• Progress in engineering and industrial production is directly related to the
nature and level of technology.
• It has been the advanced technological ability that has largely contrib-
uted to the prosperity and power of the developed countries.
• A nation backed by highly developed and advanced technology alone
can be recognized as a developed nation. Now nuclear technology
has emerged as an important source of power and influence in inter-
national relations.
Leadership
• National Power really means the ability of national leaders and deci-
sion-makers. Leadership of a nation is an important human element
of national power. National Power is basically the power of the leaders,
statesmen and diplomats of the nation to act strongly in international
relations.
• Civil and Military planning is a function of the political leaders. To make
and implement foreign policy is the responsibility of the leadership.
• 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 in-
crease the national power and its operational effectiveness.
Organization and Quality of Government
• The mere possession of material and human resources

cannot lead to national power if government is not
efficient and effective enough.
• It is the business of government to coordinate direct,
control men and material resources for securing power
for fulfilling goals of national interest.
References
• Introduction to International Relations by M. Cox & R.
Campanaro (London: LSE, 2016). Chapter 15 “Power”.
• World Politics: Trend & Transformation by Charles W.
Kegley & Shannon L. Blanton (Boston: Cengage,
2011). Chapter 8. PP. 275-284
• Global Politics by Andrew Heywood. Chapter 9. P. 209.
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lqZmsvhlYgU

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POWER

4.5: Elements Of National Power

• Amongst the elements of National Power, geography is the

• Natural resources include Raw Materials/Minerals and maximum Food

• Another basic element which affects national power is population.

• In this age of science, industrialization and technology developed in-

• The mere possession of material and human resources

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