IB Global Politics Topic Further Types of Power…

Additional Types of Power

1. Structural Power

Definition

Structural Power

Structural power refers to the ability to shape the frameworks within which global politics operates. It influences how states, institutions, and individuals interact by setting the rules, norms, and structures that govern these interactions.

Key Aspects of Structural Power

Economic Structures: Control over global trade, finance, and production systems.
1. Example: The dominance of Western countries in institutions like the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank.
Political Structures: Shaping international norms and governance systems.
1. Example: The United Nations Security Council's permanent members (P5) have significant influence over global security decisions.
Social and Cultural Structures: Promoting values, ideologies, and cultural norms.
1. Example: The spread of Western democratic ideals and consumer culture through media and technology.

Example

The United States' role in establishing the Bretton Woods system after World War II is a classic example of structural power.
By creating institutions like the IMF and World Bank, the U.S. shaped the global economic order to reflect its interests and values.

Significance of Structural Power

Long-Term Influence: Structural power shapes the underlying conditions of global politics, making it more enduring than direct coercion.
Indirect Control: It operates subtly, often without the need for direct intervention or force.
Normative Power: Structural power can legitimize certain behaviors and delegitimize others, influencing what is considered acceptable in international relations.

Note

Structural power is often overlooked because it operates behind the scenes, but it is crucial for understanding how global systems are maintained and challenged.

Active recall

Identify a recent international crisis and analyze how different types of power were exercised by key actors.
Consider the interplay between structural, relational, and productive power in shaping the outcome.

2. Cyberpower

Definition

Cyberpower

Cyberpower refers to the use of cyberspace, including the internet, computer networks, digital devices, and information technology, to create advantages and influence events. It includes activities such as cyber warfare, cyber diplomacy, and cyber espionage.

Modern Use

Many states now treat cyberspace as a domain of warfare, developing cyber units to:
1. Defend national infrastructure
2. Gather intelligence
3. Disrupt or disable the cyber systems of opponents

Note

Non-state actors, such as terrorist groups, hacktivists, and criminal organizations, also use cyberpower to disrupt services and steal information for their own purposes.

Cyber Espionage

Cyberpower extends beyond traditional warfare. Cyber espionage allows states to collect intelligence on rival states and non-state actors. It is:
1. Faster and cheaper than traditional espionage
2. Difficult to trace and prevent

Example

In 2017, the WannaCry ransomware attack, widely attributed to North Korean hackers, targeted computers worldwide, including critical infrastructure like the UK's National Health Service (NHS), disrupting hospitals and medical services.
Impact on Global Politics:
- The uneven access to cyber capabilities shapes global political dynamics. Digitally advanced states and powerful non-state actors can influence less technologically developed countries.
- As technology evolves and global interconnection deepens, cyberpower is becoming an increasingly important force in global politics.

3. Power-over, Power-to, and Power-with

Beyond Nye’s idea of power in global politics, experts focus on three important forms: power-over, power-to, and power-with.

Definition

Power-over

When one actor has control over another, forcing or coercing them into action.

Definition

Power-to

The ability of an actor to independently accomplish a task or goal.

Definition

Power-with

The ability of a group to work cooperatively toward a common objective.

Key Thinkers:
1. Mary Parker Follett:
  She was the first to introduce "power-over" and "power-with."
  1. Power-over is coercive and controlling.
  2. Power-with is cooperative and emphasizes collective action.
2. Hannah Arendt:
  1. In On Violence, Arendt argued that "power-over" should not really be considered true power, if someone forces another to act through violence, it is not genuine power.
  2. True power, she said, happens through power-with, when people act together voluntarily.
3. Hanna Pitkin:
  1. Pitkin developed the distinction between "power-over" and "power-to."
    1. Power-over happens when one actor makes another do something.
    2. Power-to is the ability to achieve goals independently, without necessarily controlling others.
Why it matters:
1. Understanding these different types of power is essential in studying global politics.
2. Power is central to political issues and challenges, and analyzing how it operates (whether through domination, ability, or cooperation) helps explain how change happens in global affairs.

Note

HL Extension: Technology
- Cyberpower, cyberwarfare, and cyber espionage are excellent topics for HL students to explore the global political challenge of Technology.
- Investigate how both state and non-state actors use technology to gain power and influence.
- Choose a specific example and analyze how the actor uses technology and why it is important.
- You can also connect this inquiry to other global political challenges, such as Borders and Security.

Exam technique

Paper 1 (Source-Based, 1h15m, 25 marks)
- For Q1 (3m), identify the specific power concepts (discursive, relational, productive) in the source.
- For Q2 (4m), explain how the source illustrates hidden or structural power - link to concepts like hegemonic discourse or institutional bias.
- For Q3 (6m), compare how sources reveal different dimensions of power - visible coercion vs. invisible norm-setting.
- For Q4 (12m), evaluate whether invisible forms of power are more significant than visible ones, using sources AND case studies.
Paper 2 (Extended Essay, 1h45m, 30 marks)
- Section A: Demonstrate understanding of advanced power concepts through specific, concrete examples - not just definitions.
- Section B: Connect deeper power analysis to themes like knowledge production, cultural hegemony, or epistemic injustice.
- Top band (13-15) requires diverse perspectives - post-colonial and feminist critiques of mainstream power frameworks.
Paper 3 - HL Only (Stimulus-Based, 1h30m, 28 marks)
- For Q1 (3m), analyse how the stimulus reveals deeper power structures behind a global challenge.
- For Q2b (6m), recommend responses that challenge structural power imbalances while being realistic about implementation.
- For Q3 (15m), synthesize case studies showing how invisible power shapes who wins and who loses in global politics.

Case study

US-China Rivalry and the Shifting Balance of Power

Background
- The US-China relationship shifted from strategic engagement to strategic competition since approximately 2017.
- China's GDP grew from $1.2 trillion (2000) to over $17 trillion (2023), challenging US economic dominance.
- Competition spans trade, technology, military, and ideology.
Dimensions of Rivalry
- Economic: Trade war (2018-present), technology decoupling, competing supply chains, BRI vs. US alternatives.
- Military: South China Sea tensions, Taiwan Strait, AUKUS alliance.
- Technological: Competition over AI, semiconductors, 5G, quantum computing.
Competing Perspectives
- Realist: Power transition theory predicts conflict when a rising power challenges the hegemon (Thucydides Trap).
- Liberal institutionalist: Economic interdependence and shared institutions can manage competition peacefully.
- Constructivist: The framing of China as "threat" or "partner" shapes policy outcomes.
IB Connections
- The defining case for understanding shifts in the global balance of power.
- Illustrates debates over hard power vs. soft power.
- Raises questions about whether a multipolar world is more or less stable than US hegemony.

Additional Types of Power

1. Structural Power

Definition

Structural Power

Key Aspects of Structural Power

Economic Structures: Control over global trade, finance, and production systems.
1. Example: The dominance of Western countries in institutions like the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank.
Political Structures: Shaping international norms and governance systems.
1. Example: The United Nations Security Council's permanent members (P5) have significant influence over global security decisions.
Social and Cultural Structures: Promoting values, ideologies, and cultural norms.
1. Example: The spread of Western democratic ideals and consumer culture through media and technology.

Example

The United States' role in establishing the Bretton Woods system after World War II is a classic example of structural power.
By creating institutions like the IMF and World Bank, the U.S. shaped the global economic order to reflect its interests and values.

Significance of Structural Power

Long-Term Influence: Structural power shapes the underlying conditions of global politics, making it more enduring than direct coercion.
Indirect Control: It operates subtly, often without the need for direct intervention or force.
Normative Power: Structural power can legitimize certain behaviors and delegitimize others, influencing what is considered acceptable in international relations.

Note

Structural power is often overlooked because it operates behind the scenes, but it is crucial for understanding how global systems are maintained and challenged.

Active recall

Identify a recent international crisis and analyze how different types of power were exercised by key actors.
Consider the interplay between structural, relational, and productive power in shaping the outcome.

2. Cyberpower

Definition

Cyberpower

Modern Use

Many states now treat cyberspace as a domain of warfare, developing cyber units to:
1. Defend national infrastructure
2. Gather intelligence
3. Disrupt or disable the cyber systems of opponents

Note

Non-state actors, such as terrorist groups, hacktivists, and criminal organizations, also use cyberpower to disrupt services and steal information for their own purposes.

Cyber Espionage

Cyberpower extends beyond traditional warfare. Cyber espionage allows states to collect intelligence on rival states and non-state actors. It is:
1. Faster and cheaper than traditional espionage
2. Difficult to trace and prevent

Example

In 2017, the WannaCry ransomware attack, widely attributed to North Korean hackers, targeted computers worldwide, including critical infrastructure like the UK's National Health Service (NHS), disrupting hospitals and medical services.
Impact on Global Politics:
- The uneven access to cyber capabilities shapes global political dynamics. Digitally advanced states and powerful non-state actors can influence less technologically developed countries.
- As technology evolves and global interconnection deepens, cyberpower is becoming an increasingly important force in global politics.

3. Power-over, Power-to, and Power-with

Beyond Nye’s idea of power in global politics, experts focus on three important forms: power-over, power-to, and power-with.

Definition

Power-over

When one actor has control over another, forcing or coercing them into action.

Definition

Power-to

The ability of an actor to independently accomplish a task or goal.

Definition

Power-with

The ability of a group to work cooperatively toward a common objective.

Key Thinkers:
1. Mary Parker Follett:
  She was the first to introduce "power-over" and "power-with."
  1. Power-over is coercive and controlling.
  2. Power-with is cooperative and emphasizes collective action.
2. Hannah Arendt:
  1. In On Violence, Arendt argued that "power-over" should not really be considered true power, if someone forces another to act through violence, it is not genuine power.
  2. True power, she said, happens through power-with, when people act together voluntarily.
3. Hanna Pitkin:
  1. Pitkin developed the distinction between "power-over" and "power-to."
    1. Power-over happens when one actor makes another do something.
    2. Power-to is the ability to achieve goals independently, without necessarily controlling others.
Why it matters:
1. Understanding these different types of power is essential in studying global politics.
2. Power is central to political issues and challenges, and analyzing how it operates (whether through domination, ability, or cooperation) helps explain how change happens in global affairs.

Note

HL Extension: Technology
- Cyberpower, cyberwarfare, and cyber espionage are excellent topics for HL students to explore the global political challenge of Technology.
- Investigate how both state and non-state actors use technology to gain power and influence.
- Choose a specific example and analyze how the actor uses technology and why it is important.
- You can also connect this inquiry to other global political challenges, such as Borders and Security.

Exam technique

Paper 1 (Source-Based, 1h15m, 25 marks)
- For Q1 (3m), identify the specific power concepts (discursive, relational, productive) in the source.
- For Q2 (4m), explain how the source illustrates hidden or structural power - link to concepts like hegemonic discourse or institutional bias.
- For Q3 (6m), compare how sources reveal different dimensions of power - visible coercion vs. invisible norm-setting.
- For Q4 (12m), evaluate whether invisible forms of power are more significant than visible ones, using sources AND case studies.
Paper 2 (Extended Essay, 1h45m, 30 marks)
- Section A: Demonstrate understanding of advanced power concepts through specific, concrete examples - not just definitions.
- Section B: Connect deeper power analysis to themes like knowledge production, cultural hegemony, or epistemic injustice.
- Top band (13-15) requires diverse perspectives - post-colonial and feminist critiques of mainstream power frameworks.
Paper 3 - HL Only (Stimulus-Based, 1h30m, 28 marks)
- For Q1 (3m), analyse how the stimulus reveals deeper power structures behind a global challenge.
- For Q2b (6m), recommend responses that challenge structural power imbalances while being realistic about implementation.
- For Q3 (15m), synthesize case studies showing how invisible power shapes who wins and who loses in global politics.

Case study

US-China Rivalry and the Shifting Balance of Power

Background
- The US-China relationship shifted from strategic engagement to strategic competition since approximately 2017.
- China's GDP grew from $1.2 trillion (2000) to over $17 trillion (2023), challenging US economic dominance.
- Competition spans trade, technology, military, and ideology.
Dimensions of Rivalry
- Economic: Trade war (2018-present), technology decoupling, competing supply chains, BRI vs. US alternatives.
- Military: South China Sea tensions, Taiwan Strait, AUKUS alliance.
- Technological: Competition over AI, semiconductors, 5G, quantum computing.
Competing Perspectives
- Realist: Power transition theory predicts conflict when a rising power challenges the hegemon (Thucydides Trap).
- Liberal institutionalist: Economic interdependence and shared institutions can manage competition peacefully.
- Constructivist: The framing of China as "threat" or "partner" shapes policy outcomes.
IB Connections
- The defining case for understanding shifts in the global balance of power.
- Illustrates debates over hard power vs. soft power.
- Raises questions about whether a multipolar world is more or less stable than US hegemony.

IB Global Politics Further Types of Power Notes

IB Global Politics Further Types of Power Notes

Additional Types of Power

1. Structural Power

Key Aspects of Structural Power

Significance of Structural Power

2. Cyberpower

Modern Use

Cyber Espionage

3. Power-over, Power-to, and Power-with

US-China Rivalry and the Shifting Balance of Power

Additional Types of Power

1. Structural Power

Key Aspects of Structural Power

Significance of Structural Power

2. Cyberpower

Modern Use

Cyber Espionage

3. Power-over, Power-to, and Power-with

US-China Rivalry and the Shifting Balance of Power

Core: Understanding power and global politics

Rights and Justice

Development and Sustainability

Peace and Conflict

Assessment Guides

IA Engagement Project

Core: Understanding power and global politics

Rights and Justice

Development and Sustainability

Peace and Conflict

Assessment Guides

IA Engagement Project

IB Global Politics Further Types of Power Notes

IB Global Politics Further Types of Power Notes

Additional Types of Power

1. Structural Power

Key Aspects of Structural Power

Significance of Structural Power

2. Cyberpower

Modern Use

Cyber Espionage

3. Power-over, Power-to, and Power-with

US-China Rivalry and the Shifting Balance of Power

Additional Types of Power

1. Structural Power

Key Aspects of Structural Power

Significance of Structural Power

2. Cyberpower

Modern Use

Cyber Espionage

3. Power-over, Power-to, and Power-with

US-China Rivalry and the Shifting Balance of Power