Regional power

In international relations since the late 20th century, a regional power is a term used for a state that has power within a geographic region.[1][2] States which wield unrivalled power and influence within a region of the world possess regional hegemony.

Leaders of most regional powers during the 2015 G-20 summit

Characteristics

Regional powers shape the polarity of a regional area. Typically, regional powers have capabilities which are important in the region but do not have capabilities at a global scale. Slightly contrasting definitions differ as to what makes a regional power. The European Consortium for Political Research defines a regional power as:

"A state belonging to a geographically defined region, dominating this region in economic and military terms, able to exercise hegemonic influence in the region and considerable influence on the world scale, willing to make use of power resources and recognized or even accepted as the regional leader by its neighbours".[1]

The German Institute of Global and Area Studies states that a regional power must:[2]

  • form part of a definable region with its own identity
  • claim to be a regional power (self-image as a regional power)
  • exert decisive influence on the geographic extension of the region as well as on its ideological construction
  • dispose over comparatively high military, economic, demographic, political and ideological capabilities
  • be well integrated into the region
  • define the regional security agenda to a high degree
  • be appreciated as a regional power by other powers in the region and beyond, especially by other regional powers
  • be well connected with regional and global forums

Regional powers

Below are states that have been described as regional powers by international relations and political science academics, analysts, or other experts. These states to some extent meet the criteria to have regional power status, as described above. Different experts have differing views on exactly which states are regional powers. States are arranged by their region, and in alphabetic order.

Africa

North America

Canada, despite being a middle power, is not a regional power because it is militarily secured by U.S. hegemony and financially comfortable by its dependence on a robust U.S. economy.[11] The United States is the primary geopolitical force in the Americas and the Western world.

South America and the Caribbean

In the past, Spain and Portugal were the dominant powers in the region but following decolonization in the first half of the 19th century, the major powers became Brazil and Argentina.

Asia

Historically, China was the dominant power in East Asia. But, at the beginning of the early 20th century, the Empire of Japan became the dominant force of Asia in World War I as one of the Allied powers. With economic turmoil, Japan's expulsion from the League of Nations, and its interest in expansion on the mainland, Japan became one of the three main Axis powers in World War II.

Since the late 20th century, regional alliances, economic progress, and contrasting military power have changed the strategic and regional power balance in Asia. In recent years, a re-balancing of military and economic power among countries such as China and India has resulted in significant changes in the geopolitics of Asia. China and Japan have also gained greater influence over regions outside Asia. With close economic and military ties with the United States, Japan is seen as major regional power "containing" the communist regimes during the Cold War.

East Asia

South Asia

Southeast Asia

West Asia

Europe
Main article: European balance of power

Russia – considered a potential superpower, is a major great power and has historically been the primary geopolitical force in Eastern Europe, while France, Germany, Italy and the United Kingdom are seen as the Big Four of Western Europe.[53][54] Historically, dominant powers in this region created large colonial empires worldwide (such as the British, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, German, Russian and Dutch empires). Most of the continent is now integrated as a consequence of the enlargement of the European Union.

Oceania
gollark: I can connect you to esolangs #bots.
gollark: AutoBotRobot can do telephone calls.
gollark: I thought I had them? Oh dear.
gollark: subjective™ thing™.
gollark: My preferred ideology is correct and ALL OTHERS are ENTIRELY EVIL AND BAD.

See also

Notes
^ Considered a great power
^ Permanent member of UNSC
^ Member of G7
^ One of G4 nations
^ Member of G20
^ Member of Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO)
^ Member of MIKTA
^ Member of BRICS
^ Member of G-15
^ Member of D-8
^ Member of N-11
^ Member of CIVETS
^ Member of G-14
^ Member of Pacific Alliance
^ Member of Andean Community
^ Member of ACS

References
  1. Joachim Betz, Ian Taylor, "The Rise of (New) Regional Powers in Asia, Africa, Latin America...", German Overseas Institute & University of St. Andrews, May 2007
  2. Martin Beck, The Concept of Regional Power: The Middle East as a Deviant Case?, German Institute of Global and Area Studies, Hamburg, 11–12 December 2006.
  3. Buzan, Barry (2004). The United States and the Great Powers. Cambridge, United Kingdom: Polity Press. p. 71. ISBN 978-0-7456-3375-6.
  4. "United States Department of Defense". www.defenselink.mil. Retrieved 25 February 2018.
  5. Efraim Inbar (5 June 2006). "Mubarak's game". Archived from the original (doc) on 23 September 2015. Retrieved 25 February 2018.
  6. Lynch, David A. (16 August 2010). Trade and Globalization: An Introduction to Regional Trade Agreements. Rowman & Littlefield Publishers. ISBN 9780742566903.
  7. Flemes, Daniel (2010). Regional Leadership in the Global System: Ideas, Interests and Strategies of Regional Powers. Ashgate Publishing, Ltd. ISBN 9780754679127.
  8. www.aims.ca Archived 21 July 2006 at the Wayback Machine
  9. www.iss.co.za Archived 12 October 2006 at the Wayback Machine
  10. "Southern Africa is home to the other of sub-Saharan Africa's regional powers: South Africa. South Africa is more than just a regional power; it is by far the most developed and economically powerful country in Africa, and now it is able to use that influence in Africa more than during the days of apartheid (white rule), when it was ostracized." See David Lynch, Trade and Globalization (Lanham, USA: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, 2010), p. 51.
  11. Alice Bothwell, "Can Canada Still Be Considered a Middle Power?," Master's Thesis (University of Stellenbosch), p. 34
  12. "Chinese Cyber Information Profusion". internationalpolicydigest.org. 17 April 2012. Archived from the original on 2 June 2013. Retrieved 5 March 2017.
  13. "Argentina has been the leading military and economic power in the Southern Cone in the Twentieth Century." See Michael Morris, "The Srait of Magellan," in International Straits of the World, edited by Gerard Mangone (Dordrecht, The Netherlands: Martinus Nijhoff Publishes, 1988), p. 63.
  14. "Secondary regional powers in Huntington's view include Great Britain, Ukraine, Japan, South Korea, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Argentina." See Tom Nierop, "The Clash of Civilisations," in The Territorial Factor, edited by Gertjan Dijkink and Hans Knippenberg (Amsterdam: Vossiuspers UvA, 2001), p. 61.
  15. "The US has created a foundation upon which the regional powers, especially Argentina and Brazil, can developed their own rules for further managing regional relations." See David Lake, "Regional Hierarchies," in Globalising the Regional, edited by Rick Fawn (UK: Cambridge University Press, 2009), p. 55.
  16. "The southern cone of South America, including Argentina and Brazil, the two regional powers, has recently become a pluralistic security community." See Emanuel Adler and Patricia Greve, "Overlapping regional mechanisms of security governance," in Globalising the Regional, edited by Rick Fawn (UK: Cambridge University Press, 2009), p. 78.
  17. "[...] notably by linking the Southern Cone's rival regional powers, Brazil and Argentina." See Alejandra Ruiz-Dana, Peter Goldschag, Edmundo Claro and Hernan Blanco, "Regional integration, trade and conflicts in Latin America," in Regional Trade Integration and Conflict Resolution, edited by Shaheen Rafi Khan (New York: Routledge, 2009), p. 18.
  18. Samuel P. Huntington, "Culture, Power, and Democracy," in Globalization, Power, and Democracy, edited by Marc Plattner and Aleksander Smolar (Baltimore: The Johns Hopkins University Press, 2000), p. 6.
  19. ""The driving force behind the adoption of the MERCOSUR agreement was similar to that of the establishment of the EU: the hope of limiting the possibilities of traditional military hostility between the major regional powers, Brazil and Argentina." See Anestis Papadopoulos, The International Dimension of EU Competition Law and Policy (New York: Cambridge University Press, 2010), p. 283.
  20. Arnson, Cynthia; Sotero, Paulo. "Brazil as a Regional Power: Views from the Hemisphere" (PDF). Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars. Retrieved 16 April 2012.
  21. De Lima, Maria Regina Soares; Hirst, Monica. "Brazil as an intermediate state and regional power: action, choice and responsibilities" (PDF). Chatham House. Archived from the original (PDF) on 6 November 2012. Retrieved 16 April 2012.
  22. Wigell, Mikael (19 May 2011). "Assertive Brazil, an emerging power and its implications" (PDF). Finnish Institute of International Affairs. Retrieved 16 April 2012.
  23. Flemes, Daniel. "Brazil's strategic options in a multi-regional world order" (PDF). German Institute of Global and Area Studies. Retrieved 16 April 2012.
  24. Schenoni, Luis. "Unveiling the South American Balance". Estudos Internacionais V. 2 N. 2 Jul-Dez 2015 P. 215-232. Retrieved 16 April 2015.
  25. "Living With The Giants - TIME". Time. 18 April 2005. Retrieved 5 March 2017.
  26. "China: Global/Regional Power 2006". au.af.mil. Retrieved 5 March 2017.
  27. "CNN In-Depth Specials - Visions of China - Asian Superpower: Regional 'godfather' or local bully?". cnn.com. Retrieved 5 March 2017.
  28. "Correspondents Report - China: paramount power in South East Asia". abc.net.au. 21 May 2006. Retrieved 5 March 2017.
  29. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 31 August 2007. Retrieved 23 May 2007.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) www.aseanfocus.com
  30. U.S. Policy to Asia for Regional Powers in New Science and Technology: China, Russia, Japan and Korea with Nuclear Potential, allacademic.com
  31. Holliday, IAN (2006). "Japan and the Myanmar Stalemate: Regional Power and Resolution of a Regional Problem| Japanese Journal of Political Science | Cambridge Core". Japanese Journal of Political Science. 6 (3): 393. doi:10.1017/S1468109905001969.
  32. "www.csbaonline.org/4Publications/PubLibrary/R.20000200.Transforming_Ameri/R.20000200.Transforming_Ameri.php". csbaonline.org. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 5 March 2017.
  33. "South Korea: A Major Regional Power" (PDF). Journal of Sociology. Retrieved 5 July 2017.
  34. Buzan & Wæver, Regions and Powers (2003, p. 55)
  35. Perkovich, George. "Is India a Major Power?" (PDF). The Washington Quarterly (27.1 Winter 2003–04). Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 February 2008. Retrieved 13 December 2007.
  36. Encarta - Great Powers Archived 1 November 2009 at WebCite
  37. Dilip Mohite (Spring 1993). "Swords and Ploughshares- India: The Fourth Great Power?". Vol. 7, No. 3. Arms Control, Disarmament, and International Security (ACDIS). Archived from the original on 1 September 2006. Retrieved 13 December 2007.
  38. Emmers, Ralf. "Regional hegemonies and the exercise of power in Southeast Asia: A study of Indonesia and Vietnam" Paper presented at the annual meeting of the International Studies Association, Le Centre Sheraton Hotel, Montreal, Quebec, Canada, 17 March 2004. Retrieved 17 April 2017.
  39. ""Iran is a strong regional power, in a far better shape than Pakistan because f its economic capabilities, rich mineral and energy resources, and internal stability, added to its far greater geostrategic importance." In Hooman Peimani, Nuclear Proliferation in the Indian Subcontinent (Westport: Praeger Publishers, 2000), p. 30.
  40. "The Eight Great Powers of 2017 - The American Interest". The American Interest. 24 January 2017. Retrieved 25 November 2017.
  41. Haaretz (1 March 2016). "Israel May Be Eighth-ranked in Global Power, but It's Really Not Much Fun". Haaretz. Retrieved 25 November 2017.
  42. Butenschøn, Nils A. (1992). "Israel as a Regional Great Power: Paradoxes of Regional Alienation". Regional Great Powers in International Politics. Palgrave Macmillan, London. pp. 95–119. doi:10.1007/978-1-349-12661-3_5. ISBN 9781349126637.
  43. "FindArticles.com | CBSi". findarticles.com. Retrieved 5 March 2017.
  44. "Saudi Surprise". 26 August 2004. Archived from the original on 26 August 2004. Retrieved 4 April 2018.
  45. Ana Belén Soage Antepazo (8 December 2012). "Saudi Arabia. A Regional Power Facing Increasing Challenges". Retrieved 24 August 2019.
  46. Anoushiravan Ehteshami (28 September 2018). "Saudi Arabia as a Resurgent Regional Power". The International Spectator. 53 (4): 75–94. doi:10.1080/03932729.2018.1507722.
  47. Buzan, Barry (15 October 2004). The United States and the Great Powers: World Politics in the Twenty-First Century. Wiley. ISBN 9780745633749. Retrieved 4 April 2018 – via Google Books.
  48. "Turkey and Russia on the Rise". Stratfor. 17 March 2009. Archived from the original on 23 August 2011. Retrieved 21 August 2011.
  49. "Can Turkey Be a Source of Stability in the Middle East?". heptagonpost.com. 18 December 2010. Archived from the original on 13 June 2011. Retrieved 16 May 2011.
  50. "The Economist: "Turkish foreign policy: Ottoman dreamer", 5 November 2011". The Economist. 5 November 2011. Retrieved 5 March 2017.
  51. "The Economist: "Turkey in the Balkans: The good old days?", 5 November 2011". The Economist. 5 November 2011. Retrieved 5 March 2017.
  52. "Erdoğan's Moment", cover story in the Time magazine issue of 21–28 November 2011. (Vol. 178 No. 21.) "Erdoğan's Way" was the cover title in the editions of Europe, Asia and South Pacific.
  53. Kirchner, E.J.; Sperling, J. (2007). Global Security Governance: Competing Perceptions of Security in the Twenty-First Century. Taylor & Francis. p. 265. ISBN 9781134222223. Retrieved 5 March 2017.
  54. Aghion, P.; Durlauf, S.N. (2005). Handbook of Economic Growth. Elsevier. p. 788. ISBN 9780444520418. Retrieved 5 March 2017.
  55. "France, Germany, Britain – Responses of Traditional Regional Powers to Rising Regions and Rivals" (PDF). giga-hamburg.de. Retrieved 5 March 2017.
  56. {{cite web|url=http://www.globalpolicy.org/security/oil/2003/0206regi.htm|publisher=globalpolicy.org|title="Regional Powers React to Proposed US Invasion of Iraq"|accessdate=5 March 2017}}
  57. "tspace.library.utoronto.ca" (PDF). utoronto.ca. Retrieved 4 April 2018.
  58. Gabriele Abbondanza, Italy as a Regional Power: the African Context from National Unification to the Present Day (Rome: Aracne, 2016)
  59. "Operation Alba may be considered one of the most important instances in which Italy has acted as a regional power, taking the lead in executing a technically and politically coherent and determined strategy." See Federiga Bindi, Italy and the European Union (Washington, D.C.: Brookings Institution Press, 2011), p. 171.
  60. "Italy plays a prominent role in European and global military, cultural and diplomatic affairs. The country's European political, social and economic influence make it a major regional power." See Italy: Justice System and National Police Handbook, Vol. 1 (Washington, D.C.: International Business Publications, 2009), p. 9.
  61. "L'Italie : un destin européen". ladocumentationfrancaise.fr. Retrieved 5 March 2017.
  62. "Italy plays a prominent role in European and global military, cultural and diplomatic affairs. The country's European political, social and economic influence make it a major regional power." See Italy: Justice System and National Police Handbook, Vol. 1 (Washington, D.C.: International Business Publications, 2009), p. 9.
  63. "Australia as an Asia-Pacific Regional Power: Friendships in Flux? (Hardback) - Routledge". routledge.com. 12 September 2007. Retrieved 5 March 2017.
  64. "Should Australia Think Big or Small in Foreign Policy?". foreignminister.gov.au. Archived from the original on 1 June 2011. Retrieved 5 March 2017.

Bibliography
  • Buzan, Barry; Wæver, Ole (2003), Regions and Powers: The Structure of International Security, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, p. 55, ISBN 978-0-521-89111-0
  • Godehardt, Nadine; Nabers, Dirk, eds. (2011), Regional Orders and Regional Powers, Routledge, pp. 193–208, ISBN 978-1-136-71891-5
  • Stewart-Ingersoll, Robert; Frazier, Derrick (2012), Regional Powers and Security Orders: A Theoretical Framework, Routledge, ISBN 978-0-415-56919-4
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.