Definition

1. Noun:
   • Diplomacy based on threats of force: "Power politics" refers to international relations where countries primarily use or threaten to use military or economic force to achieve their goals, rather than relying on cooperation, negotiation, or international law.

Usage

• Power politics is typically used as an uncountable noun to describe a general approach or strategy in international affairs.
• It often carries a negative connotation, implying coercion, bullying, or a disregard for ethical norms in foreign policy.

Examples

• The era was defined by brutal power politics, where larger nations routinely intimidated their smaller neighbors.
• The ambassador criticized the use of power politics, advocating instead for diplomacy founded on mutual respect.
• In international relations theory, realism is often associated with the practice of power politics.

Advanced Usage

• "To engage in power politics": to participate in or conduct foreign policy through coercion and threats.
  • The regime's decision to engage in power politics isolated it from the international community.
• "The game of power politics": a phrase describing international relations as a competitive struggle for dominance.
  • He was a master of the intricate game of power politics.

Variants and Related Words

• Realpolitik (n): A German term closely related to "power politics," describing politics or diplomacy based primarily on practical and material factors, rather than ideological or ethical considerations.
• Machtpolitik (n): The German word for "power politics."

Synonyms

• Coercive diplomacy: Diplomacy that uses threats to force an agreement.
• Gunboat diplomacy: The pursuit of foreign policy objectives with the aid of conspicuous displays of naval power.
• Realism: In international relations, a theory that views states as primarily concerned with gaining and maintaining power.

Related Phrases

• Balance of power: A core concept in power politics where states prevent any one entity from becoming too strong by forming alliances or increasing their own capabilities.
• Sphere of influence: A territorial area over which a state or organization has significant cultural, economic, military, or political influence, often established through power politics.

Noun

1. diplomacy in which the nations threaten to use force in order to obtain their objectives