POWER
Define hard power.
use of force or coercion (e.g., military action, sanctions).
Define sovereignty.
Sovereignty = ultimate authority of a state over its territory and population.
Define legitimacy in global politics.
Legitimacy = when power/authority is accepted as rightful.
Define interdependence.
Interdependence = states and actors rely on each other economically, politically, socially.
How does legitimacy support sovereignty?
Legitimacy strengthens sovereignty by making authority accepted domestically and externally.
Give one real-world example of soft power.
Example: The global influence of Hollywood or K-pop (soft power through culture).
What is the difference between internal and external sovereignty?
Internal sovereignty = authority within borders.
External sovereignty = recognition from other states and organizations.
Name one source of legitimacy for a democratic state.
Example: Free and fair elections in India or Germany.
Name one example of international cooperation through a treaty.
Example: Paris Climate Agreement (2015).
How does interdependence challenge state sovereignty?
Interdependence challenges sovereignty when states must follow supranational rules (e.g., EU, WTO).
Explain what smart power means.
Smart power = strategic combination of hard and soft power depending on context.
Give one challenge to sovereignty caused by globalization.
Example: Globalization challenges sovereignty by limiting economic independence (e.g., WTO rules).
Give an example of a non-state actor and explain how it gains legitimacy.
Example: NGOs like Amnesty International gain legitimacy through representation, expertise, and advocacy.
Identify one achievement and one limitation of the United Nations.
Achievement: UN peacekeeping or global health campaigns.
Limitation: Inaction due to Security Council veto power.
Explain how power and legitimacy are connected in global politics.
Power needs legitimacy to be sustainable; legitimacy often depends on how power is exercised.
How does structural power differ from cyber power?
Structural power = the ability to shape the framework, rules, and institutions of global politics (e.g., permanent UN Security Council members, IMF voting power).
Cyber power = the ability to use digital technology and cyberspace to influence others, disrupt systems, or spread information/propaganda (e.g., cyberattacks, election interference, control of digital platforms).
Explain how supranational organizations like the EU affect sovereignty.
Example: Globalization challenges sovereignty by limiting economic independence (e.g., WTO rules).
What are two challenges that can reduce a state’s legitimacy?
Challenges: political instability, corruption, human rights violations.
Explain the difference between government and governance.
Government = formal governing institutions of a state.
Governance = broader, includes non-state actors, IGOs, norms, and institutions.
How can NGOs affect both legitimacy and sovereignty of states?
NGOs can undermine legitimacy by exposing abuses but also support sovereignty by providing services (e.g., humanitarian aid).
Using an example, evaluate whether soft power can be as effective as hard power.
Example answer: Soft power (e.g., US cultural influence, EU diplomacy) can be effective long-term, but hard power (e.g., invasion of Iraq) often brings immediate impact. Effectiveness depends on context.
Discuss whether sovereignty in the 21st century can still be considered absolute.
Absolute sovereignty is weakened today by international law, supranational bodies, and humanitarian intervention.
Compare the sources of legitimacy in a democratic state versus an authoritarian state.
Democratic states gain legitimacy through elections, consent of people.
Authoritarian states claim legitimacy through ideology, stability, performance, or nationalism.
Evaluate how interdependence creates both cooperation and competition in global politics.
Interdependence promotes cooperation (e.g., trade agreements) but also competition (e.g., US–China rivalry over markets/tech).
“Sovereignty remains central, but legitimacy determines survival.” Discuss this statement using examples.
Discussion point: States need sovereignty to exist, but without legitimacy they risk collapse (e.g., Libya after 2011).