Hierarchy of Power

The great power and middle power

Super power: A country that has the capacity to project dominating power and influence
anywhere in the world and sometimes in more than one region of the globe at a time.

Great Power: A great power is sovereign state that is recognized as having that ability and
expertise to extent in influence on a global scale, they characteristically possess military and
economic strength as well as diplomatic and soft power influence which may cause middle or
small powers to consider the great powers opinions before taking action of their own. By almost
any measure of power, a handful of states possess the majority of the world’s power resources.
As most of a few dozen states have any real influence beyond their immediate locality (P. 53)

Although there is no firm dividing line, great powers are generally considered the half dozen or
so most powerful states. The great powers generally have the world’s strongest military forces
and the strongest economics to pay for military forces and other power capabilities.

History
Traditionally – India, China, Greek, Roman

16th Century – England, France and Holy Roman Empire

17th Century- Thirty year war (1618-1648), Treaty of Westphalia

18th Century- Poland was the balancer

19th Century- Five Great Powers

Austria-Hungary, Britain, France, Prussia and Russia

(1815, Congress of Vienna-5)

In 1878- Austria, Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Russia

Prussia, Germany -1871
In 1900- Austria, Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia and United states of America
8 countries

In 1919- End of First World War- UK, France, Italy, Japan, US.
In 1939- UK, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, USSR and US

In 1945- China, France, UK, USA and USSR

In 2000- China, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, USSR, UK and USA

Now, although definition may vary, seven states of the world are considered as the Great
powers as they meet the criteria. The United States, China, Russia, Japan, Germany, France,
2
Britain. Together they account for more than half of the world’s total GDP and 3 of military
spending.

Super power

Middle power – strong country at regional and global level

Small power – Strong at such regional level

Micro-state- always weak at all level

They include the five permanent members of the UN Security Council which ate also member
of the “Club” openly possessing large nuclear weapons arsenals (P. 54).

The United States is considered as the world’s only Super Power because of its historical role of
World Leadership (especially in and after World War Second) and its predominant military
right. Likewise, China has the world’s largest population ratio economic growth (7-10%
annually over 15 years) and large through not very modern military including a credible nuclear
arsenal. China is likely to play a central role in world politics in the 21 st century. Japan and
Germany are economically great powers. (See P. 55 Devehouse ).

The slow change in great power states is evident. Britain and France have been great power for
500 years, Russia and Germany for more than 500 years. The six others Austria, (Austria-
Hungry), Spain Turkey (The Ohovan Empire) Sweden and the Netherlands were even but no
longer considered as great power.

Middle Powers (Almost all G-20)

Rank below somewhat below the great powers in terms of their influence on world affairs.
Some are large but not highly industrialized others have specialized capabilities but are small.
Some aspire to regional dominance and many have considerable influence in their regions.

Generally (not everyone would agree on it) under middle power might include mid sized
countries of the global North such as Canada, Italy, Spain, the Netherland, Poland, Ukraine,
South Korea and Australia. It could also include large or influential countries in the global south
such as India, Brazil, Indonesia, Argentina, Mexico, Nigeria, South Africa, Israel, Turkey, Iran
and Pakistan.

On the basis of Polarity

a. Uni-polar
Hence, a unipolar system has a single center of power around which all other resolves.
This steep hierarchy is called hegemony.

b. Bipolar
A bipolar has two predominant states or two great rival alliance blocks. It is not clear that
whether polar systems are relatively peaceful or warlike. The US Soviet standoff seemed
to provide stability and peace to great power relations but rival blocks in Europe before
WWI did not.

c. Tripolar system: It consists of three great centers of power It is fairly rare owing to the
tendency for a two against one alliance to form. Aspects of Tripolarity colored the
strategic triangle of the
US ----- Soviet Union ----- China
During the 1960s and 1970s
Some scholars imagine a future tri-polar world with rival power centers in North
America, Europe and East Asia.
d. Multi polar: A multi polar system typically has five or six centers of power, which are
not grouped into alliances. Each state participates independently and a relative equal
terms with the others. In the classical multi polar balance of power, the great power
system itself was stable but wars occurred frequently to adjust power relations.
 China Japan

USA
Russia

Third world Western Europe

On the Other

i. Super power First World

ii. Medium Power Second World
iii. Small Power Third World
Fourth World