pols/econ 426 international political economy lecture three: understanding power april 3, 2008 prof....
TRANSCRIPT
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POLS/ECON 426 International Political Economy
Lecture Three: Lecture Three: Understanding PowerUnderstanding Power
April 3, 2008 • Prof. Timothy LimApril 3, 2008 • Prof. Timothy Lim
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Let’s begin some questions …
What is power?
Understanding Power
in the global political economy
Understanding Power
in the global political economy
Where does power come from?Who has power?
How do relations of power change?
Is power absolute?
The traditional conception of power: Power is dominance where dominance is achieved through
coercion or force
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Power: Basic PointsPower is everywhere and ever-present; even in the “freest” of market societies, power plays a dominant, if not always obvious role
An efficient and productive market system cannot exist where private property rights are not respected, where contracts cannot be enforced, or where domestic security is weak or non-existent; yet doing all of his requires the use of some type of power, which—it is important to understand—must usually be exercised by a non-market actor, such as the state
Understanding Power
in the global political economy
Understanding Power
in the global political economy
Consider how the exercise of power is required to
create and maintain market economies Consider how the exercise of power is required to
create and maintain market economies
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Power: Basic PointsPower is often hidden: even in situations where power seems to be non-existent, it may play an essential role
Examples
“Free Agency” in professional sports
“Free” labor markets in developing economies
Understanding Power
in the global political economy
Understanding Power
in the global political economy
Consider how some ostensibly “free” markets require the exercise of immense and often coercive power
Consider how some ostensibly “free” markets require the exercise of immense and often coercive power
Note: “Capitalists” always are advocates of a free labor market when it serves their interests, but dead set against free markets when it doesn’t; nothing surprising about this, of course, but points to a basic truth in GPE: interests matter
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Power: Basic PointsTraditional or everyday conceptions of power do well in highlighting the concrete and obvious manifestations of power, but often miss other important dimensions of power
But, if the traditional conception of power is inadequate, how should we conceive of power? Is there a better way?
Understanding Power
in the global political economy
Understanding Power
in the global political economy
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Power: A Better ConceptionStarting point: We must understand that power is multi-dimensional and complex
Susan Strange tells us that, at a minimum, there are two basic types of power …
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Understanding Power
in the global political economy
Understanding Power
in the global political economy
1.1.
2.2.
relational
structural
Two guys fighting it out is an example of relational powerTwo guys fighting it out is an example of relational power
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Power: ExamplesWhen someone holds a gun to your head and demands you give him all your money, this is relational/coercive power
When the US and allies undertook a massive military campaign to destroy Saddam Hussein’s regime, this too is an example of relational power
Understanding Power
in the global political economy
Understanding Power
in the global political economy
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Can you think of other examples?
Can you think of other examples?
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Power: Other ExamplesThe U.S. government decision to underwrite, for $30 billion, JP Morgan’s takeover of Bear Stearns
The reliance of some countries on international financial institutions, such as the IMF and World Bank
The willingness of the United States to support the Saudi Arabian regime despite its poor human rights record and lack of democracy
Understanding Power
in the global political economy
Understanding Power
in the global political economy
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What type of power do these examples represent?
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Power: Structural PowerStructural power as Strange defines it, “confers the power to decide how things shall be done, the power to shape frameworks within which states relate to one another, relate to people, or relate to corporate enterprises”
So, what differentiates structural from relational power?• No direct application of force; in a sense, one party “chooses” to abide by certain rules or practices
• This highlights a key aspect of structural power, which the ability to “write the rules” or to define the frameworks within which certain activities take place
Understanding Power
in the global political economy
Understanding Power
in the global political economy
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Power: Structural PowerKey Point: Structural power is not just a broader, more generalized version of coercive power
Three reasons
Frameworks of power subject all actors to the same system of constraints and opportunities
Structural power is context dependent
Structural power is reciprocal
Understanding Power
in the global political economy
Understanding Power
in the global political economy
1.1.
2.2.
3.3.
Consider the current system of international finance
Consider the current system of international finance
Consider the “power” of teachers over students
Consider the “power” of teachers over students
Consider the relationship between owners and workers
Consider the relationship between owners and workers
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Power: Structural PowerStructural power and change. The structural nature of power allows us to understand change
Without an understanding of the structural nature of power, one could not adequately explain how changes ever occur in the political economy
After all, those who lack (coercive) power also lack the capacity to challenge those with power; thus, how can unequal relations of power change once established?
Understanding Power
in the global political economy
Understanding Power
in the global political economy
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Power: Structural PowerThe dimensions of structural power. Strange tells us that structural power, as with “power” itself, is multidimensional. She focuses on four main dimensions of structural power …
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Understanding Power
in the global political economy
Understanding Power
in the global political economy
1.1.
2.2.
3.3.
4.4.
security
production
financeknowledge
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Structural Power: Four StructuresSecurity: The power to provide protection from external or internal threats
Production: The power to decide what shall be produced, by whom, by what means, and with what combination of land, labor, capital, and technology
Finance: The power to create credit
Knowledge: The ability to develop or acquire and to deny the access of others to a kind of knowledge respected and sought by others
Understanding Power
in the global political economy
Understanding Power
in the global political economy
NOTE: No additional slides for lecture on structural power
NOTE: No additional slides for lecture on structural power