Defining Power in the Contemporary Period - Essay Example

Introduction Changes in power are now shifting from national aspects of holding a specific amount of weight to globalization. The concept of global power and changes into a global order are one of the changes that are driving forward the contemporary period. As the concept of power changes, so do the alterations into global power and a new imperialism. The remaking of society into a global entity is one that is altering the future in terms of politics, economy, society and culture. The shift and transition that continues to occur is creating a different understanding of the change of power into a new structure that is a part of society. In return, this is creating a change in opportunities and challenges among different national orders, specifically because of the shift in power that is occurring in the 21st century. Defining Power in the Contemporary Period The definition of power is one that has been debated because of changes in political involvement and social alterations. However, the definition is known to directly relate to human social life and structure as well as natural components that are able to assist in the building of leadership and power systems. According to the standard theory, the concept of power is defined as an influence that a person, society or system has over others. The influence that is created is based on the number of resources that are a part of society as well as how these are valued or desired by others. More important, power creates a sense of group identity, social organization and dependencies that are a result of an individual who has this power. For one to hold power through organizations that create dependencies is also the need to influence and motivate others to create a belief that the resources are needed by others. In turn, this creates a sense of power over a component of society while making the resource a standard for others (Turner, 1, 2005). The concept of power in the contemporary period expands on the process of gaining power through resources and the structures which are associated with this. In the past, this concept of power was based on isolation, exclusiveness to other societies and boundaries which were associated with other identities. However, the global and domestic politics are now changing into new dynamics that are creating a power struggle and sense of dynamics between national and international spheres. The new source of power is one which is reliant on a meta – power, which provides an international space and an open realm that is based on economy, politics and resource sharing between different nations. The power is one that is now based on the capabilities of sharing resources and creating a sense of political and economic realms that are able to rise above others while providing a sense of dependency that is based on international trade, social exchange and the exercise of domination at an international realm. The power roles are now based on which nation can provide the most exchanges while having more resources than other arenas that are holding the power of other concepts for economic and political leadership (Beck, 2, 2005). Transformation into Global Power The concept of power and the changes which have been created in the 21st century are now leading to a sense of having a global order that is slowly being created. The first transformation that is being recognized is through the transformation of political realms from national entities into international powers. The order that is emerging is based on creating world entities through interactions and agreements that are taking place at an international level. The political realm is moving outside of national exclusion and instead into cooperative agreements with other nations. The result is the turning into a new order of politics and openness between nations. The balance of power is now becoming more important between nations, specifically in the political realm. The balancing of power is reliant on governing arrangements, compromising laws, agreed norms, international regimes and institutional rules (Baylis, Smith, Owens, 5, 2008). The balance of power is in turn transforming from national entities that carry exclusive resources to international alterations that compromise resources through new agreements and arrangements that are cooperative among nations. The interchange at a political realm is in turn altering the way that many look at the social realm in terms of culture and international powers. Cultural globalization is the second way in which power structures are changing. In past periods, national structures, traditions, religion and personal beliefs shaped the cultures that were in each region. Like politics and economics, these were exclusive and were defined by different boundaries that were a part of each region. In contemporary social structures, culture is being transformed and shaped into a global culture. This is one that is creating a new culture flow in which different ideologies and concepts are accepted or rejected in different regions while exchanges in cultural and societal information are shared. Individuals in different nations are able to decide which parts of cultural orders to accept or reject while creating a more open arena toward cultural concepts. Migration, travel, information exchange and the rise of communication technologies, such as the Internet, are furthering the acceptance of cultural practices. The impact is altering arenas such as entertainment, social networks and basic lifestyle trends that are no longer national or regional, but instead are accepted on a global basis (Hopper, 183, 2007). With exchanges in both cultural and political politics, are also transformations which are occurring with the decline of powerful entities which were before focused on specific structures. The American economy and political structure was before known as the largest power entity in the global economy. However, opening the borders and exchanging power concepts both through politics and culture, is also changing the power structure of America. The economic crash began this with America losing the structure and economic prestige that was carried in the past. This is being followed by a boom in resources from other regions of the world which is slowly impacting the way in which the entities function. Most have noted that the loss of power in terms of politics and economy directly links to the terrorist attacks of 9/11, 2001, which showed that the concept of having a global supremacy could be destroyed. The fading global decline and power structure from America is, in turn, allowing a balance of power to occur as well as new global structures to arise, specifically with changes from various nations that are continuing to rise with a different sense of being a part of an international order (Wallerstein, 17, 2003). The transition of balancing powers and opening boundaries at an international level, as well as the movement toward a loss of national powers is creating a transition into remaking a new world order. The crashing of America as a global entity and the cooperative movements in politics and culture has also led to new exchanges with those who are trying to find a balance with new possibilities for power. For instance, an international system for exchange has now been created which compromises the political realms and the cultural entities which exist. The openness that is created at this international level is also providing new ways to exchange different goods and materials while allowing different states to offer specific types of resources for power and structure. This is leading to concepts such as the geoeconomic competition, which allows different resources and structures to be available while reflecting different concepts with sharing power among different enterprises. The concept of distribution of power and prestige is now altering who owns specific types of powers while creating a network of sharing resources through different policies and accepted applications with both wealth and power through cooperative sharing and exchange of resources at an economic level (Paul, Hall, 22, 1999). As the entities and economic exchanges continue to alter and increase, are also questions of how the rise to power will alter. Globalization is now an accepted term that is used in terms of economics, cultural exchange and generalized international policies which are associated with several. However, there are also several nations which are incorporating the capabilities of rising to power with new structures at a national level. While the international inclusiveness is accepted, there are several which are questioning if a new nation or state can rise to power while accumulating a new sense of power. The struggle that is occurring at this front is based first on political structures, specifically between capitalist and imperialist political struggles. The Marxist and communist states are interested in the sharing of resources and work, even at a global level, so fair distribution can be accomplished. However, other powerful entities are looking at the capital and imperialist viewpoint, which creates a power structure which dominates the resources and concepts of production. The domination of class is also prevalent at this level. These two clashes are creating a question of how power can be retrieved or whether it can be shared with a new global order. As the different arenas on the globe continue to open to economic and political exchange, are also specific struggles to take the power with capital and imperialist structures, as opposed to sharing the work and creating a cooperative field. The progressive development which is now being achieved is based on the continuous clash of powers as well as compromise that are forcing open the different arenas (Harvey, 170, 2003). The question that is continuing to arise with the transition into a global order and world power for the 21st century is now based on the clash of beliefs and compromises that are being made in turn. The patterns of conflict which are noted to have begun from turning points in government structure, society and economic standpoints are now creating a direct impact on nations and how individuals function in everyday living. The global society in which individuals are now living in is one which is based on the continuous power struggles with national ideologies, structures in politics and the economic reforms that continue to transform. More important, there are other patterns of conflict which are continuing to arise based on cultural and social attributes that are being accepted or rejected. As the transformation into a global entity continues, are also needed changes in power structure that are based on the need to cooperate and work with other nations as a now global entity (Hopper, 7, 2006). Conclusion The concepts that are currently being associated with globalization and the movement into new power structures are creating an impact on several levels. The political realm is altering with the power structure, specifically between the fall of powerful entities in the American government, as well as international policies and exchanges that are taking place at an international level. The political realm is creating conflict with the grasp onto older powers as well as the push forward into more cooperative movements for politics. These concepts are being exchanged with economic changes and social and cultural movements that are creating an open structure in society. Each of these aspects are related to the alteration into globalization that is a part of society and the way in which individuals and nations are exchanging and moving into different livelihoods for power exchanges between nations. References Baylis, John, Steve Smith, Paul Owens. (2008). The Globalization of World Politics. New York: Oxford University Press. Beck, Ulrich. (2005). Power in the Global Age: A New Political Global Economy. UK: Polity Press. Harvey, David. (2003). The New Imperialism. New York: Oxford University Press. Hopper, Paul. (2006). Living With Globalization. New York: Berg Publishers. Hopper, Paul. (2007). Understanding Cultural Globalization. UK: Polity Press. Paul, T.V., John Hall. (1999). International Order and the Future of World Politics. UK: University of Cambridge. Turner, John. (2005). “Explaining the Nature of Power: A Three Process Theory.” European Journal of Social Psychology (35), (1). Wallerstein, Immanuel. (2003). The Decline of American Power: The US in a Chaotic World. UK: The New Press. Read More