Importance Of National Power

1. What is national power and how we can measure it? Please elaborate with evidences!
Power in the context of human relations is the capacity and ability to secure a desired and intended effect or gain by means of use of force, influence or control.
National Power is the ability or capability of a nation to secure the goals and objectives of its national interests in relation with other nations. It involves the capacity to use force or threat of use of force or influence over others for securing the goals of national interest. In this way, we can define National Power as “the ability to control the behaviour of other states in accordance with one’s own will.” National Power is the currency of international relations. There are two kind of power,

Domestic power
International power of the state is known as the domestic power. Domestic power of a country is also defined as the powers which are within the state.
2. International power
Power which is external and is used to influence other countries is known as international power. (xiantian yu,nd)
Elements of national power :
 Geography
Amongst the elements of National Power, geography is the most stable, tangible, permanent and natural element. Its importance as a factor of national power can be judged from the fact that Geo-political scientists, like Moodie, Spykman, Haushofer, Mackinder and others, regard Geography as the determinant of international politics.
While describing -the importance of geography in international relations Napoleon, observed. “The foreign policy of a country is determined by its geography.” Geography is, however neither an independent determinant of national power nor of foreign policy. It is just an element of National Power. (chatterjee,nd)
Nature and Role of Geography as an Element of National Power:
(i) Maps
Maps are always geographical in nature. These are sometimes used by nations to justify a particular course of policy or action as well as to reject the views of other nations.
(ii)

It is terrain which determines decisions concerning physical security of the state. The English Channel has remained a source of defence and some security for England. The Atlantic and Pacific Oceans have provided strength to the security of the United States.
(vi) boundaries
Boundary is also a geographic factor of national power. Settled and natural boundaries are always a source of friendly and cooperative relations among the nations of a region. Undefined and disputed boundaries are potent sources of conflict which weakens national power e.g. the boundary disputes between India and China, Israel and Arab states can be quoted as examples. Natural boundaries are helpful to national power and conversely artificial boundaries are a source of weakness and conflict.
 Natural resources
No nation can hope to be a powerful nation if its territory is not adequately graced by natural resources. Natural resources are indeed “gifts of nature of established utility.” The industrial and military capabilities of a nation as well as its economic well-being are dependent upon the existence of natural