Regional power

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In international relations, a regional power is a state that has power within a geographic region.[1][2]

Military expenditure is a factor in a state's military power.
Military expenditure is a factor in a state's military power.

Contents

There are slightly differing definitions of what makes a regional power:

According to the European Consortium for Political Research a regional power can be defined 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".[3]

According to the German Institute of Global and Area Studies a regional power must ;

  • be part of a definable region with an identity of its own
  • claim to be one (self-image of 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 fora. [4]

Some states may be regarded as both a Great power and a regional power. Likewise some states may be regarded as a Middle power and a regional power.

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.

China Considered an emerging superpower by some political analysts and a significant regional power by others. [5][6][7] Academics from various sources thinks China is a regional power in East Asia and Southeast Asia. [8] [9]

It has the world's largest population, 1.3 billion people.[10] It is currently the 4th largest economy in the world in nominal GDP and growing at a rate of over 9% a year, [11] and has the largest reserves of foreign exchange and gold in the world. [12] China is a permanent member of the UN Security Council.

In terms of manpower, China has the biggest military in the world, with 2,250,000 active troops. [13] Chinese defence expenditure is the second highest in East Asia, and the fifth highest in the world. [14] China has nuclear weapons, inter-continental ballistic missiles, and ballistic missile submarines.

Japan

Japan is considered a regional power by academics at the City University of Hong Kong, [15] and is described as a "core great regional power" in a report by the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments policy research institute. [16]

Japan has the second highest nominal GDP in the world, and the largest in East Asia. [17] It also has the second largest population and largest defence budget in the region. [18] Japan has technologically advanced armed forces; however has limited real power projection capability due to its post-war constitution, but has the ability to rebuild quickly if it normalized.

France

France has been described as a regional power by the Global Policy Forum [19], and Samuel P. Huntington [20], and is described as a "core great regional power" in a report by the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments policy research institute. [21]

France has the third-largest economy in Europe.[22] France is a permanent member of the UN Security Council. It is a NATO member, and has the second largest defence expenditure in Europe. [23] France has nuclear weapons, inter-continental ballistic missiles, ballistic missile submarines, and is the only nation besides the United States to operate a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier.


Germany

Germany has been described as a regional power by Samuel P. Huntington[24], and other academics.[25]It is described as a "core great regional power" in a report by the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments policy research institute. [26]

Germany is the worlds largest exporter. [27] Germany has the highest GDP in Europe, [28] and is also the most populous nation in the E.U, giving it the most seats in the European Parliament, and influence within the E.U. Germany is a member of NATO, and has the third largest defence expenditure in Europe [29]


Italy

Political scientist and author Joseph Becker and Franz Knipping in, "Power in Europe? Great Britain, France, Italy and Germany in a Postwar World, 1945-1950," along with Ben W. Heineman, Jr., and Fritz Heimann in, "The Long War Against Corruption," have called Italy, alongside France, the UK, and Germany the remaining regional powers and describes Italy as a "major player" on par with the other regional powers within Europe.[30] [31]Also the Carabinieri and author B.A. Roberson have claimed Italy's status as a regional power.[32][33]

Italy is a member of the G8, NATO and is also a current elected member of the United Nations Security Council.[34], Italy also has the fourth largest economy within Europe [35] with "...roughly the same total and per capita output as France and the UK"[36]. It is regarded as a Great Power and is behind Russian military spending by just 307 million by 2006 est.[37] But Italy is undergoing military upgrades and reform including the making of a new aircraft carrier, the Cavour (550) and the purchase of more Eurofighter Typhoons.[38] Italy was one of the founding members of the EU and as of 2006, Italy ranks third in the world in number of military forces operating in peacekeeping and peace-enforcing scenarios such as Afghanistan, Kosovo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Lebanon following only the United States and United Kingdom.[39]

Russia

Publications of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace[40] and the CSBA policy research institute[41] state that Russia is a regional power.

Russia has a larger population than any other European country and by far the largest land area in the world. It has the sixth largest GDP in Europe.[42] It has a permanent seat on the U.N Security Council. Russia has the largest stockpile of nuclear weapons and inter-continental ballistic missiles in the world. [43] It also has ballistic missile submarines, and is the only country in Europe with a strategic bomber force. However Russian defence spending is only the fourth highest in Europe.

Russia is the second largest producer [44] and exporter [45] of oil in the world, after Saudi Arabia. It has the largest proven oil reserves of any European country.[46] Russia is also the world's largest producer, [47] and exporter [48] of Natural gas, with the largest proven reserves in the world. [49]

United Kingdom

The U.K is described as a regional power by scholars at the University of Cambridge [50] It has been called a European power by a professor at Johns Hopkins University's School of Advanced International Studies. [51] The U.K is described as a "core great regional power" in a report by the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments policy research institute. [52]

The U.K has the second largest economy in The World and has the second largest GDP in europe. [53] The U.K is also a permanent member of the U.N. Security Council. It has the largest defence budget within Europe and second largest in the world following the United States, and is a NATO member. [54]The U.K possesses nuclear weapons, inter-continental ballistic missiles, ballistic missile submarines, and is the only European country with more than one aircraft carrier and only country in the world other than the United States to have more than one aircraft carrier. The UK is also the largest producer of oil and gas in the European Union. London, the capital of the UK is the world's largest financial centre alongside New York City and Tokyo. [55].

Brazil

Brazil is considered a regional power by academia [56][57][58]. Condoleezza Rice has said, "I think it is a fact that Brazil is a regional power and, in fact, Brazil is a growing global presence". [59]

Brazil is the largest state by area and population in the region. Its GDP in 2006 was $1.803 trillion PPP, the largest in the region. [60] In addition, it has the largest defense budget and armed forces in Latin America [61][62], and is the only country in the region with an aircraft carrier. [63]. On the global stage Brazil is a member of the G8+5, a political and economic group composed of emerging economic powers and the G8.

Mexico

Mexico is considered a regional power by academics and the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs[64][65]. Mexico has the second largest GDP in the region[66] with $1.134 USD trillion. It has the second largest defence budget ($6.07 billion USD) [67] and armed forces[68] in Latin America.

Mexico is the largest exporter in the whole region, in 2006 it exported 248.8 billion USD, almost equivalent to the exports of all members of Mercosur combined, which total 258.4 billion USD [69]. It is also the largest producer of oil in Latin America and the 6th largest in the world [70]

Mexico is also part of the G8+5, the North American Free Trade Agreement and the only Latin American member of the OECD.

Egypt

Egypt has been called a regional power in the Middle East by former U.S Secretary of Defense William S. Cohen. [71] Efraim Inbar of Bar-Ilan University calls Egypt a Middle Eastern regional power and the "most important Arab state". [72] The Power and Interest News Report has called Egypt "one of the most important players in the Middle East". [73] Vladimir Putin has called the country a key regional power. [74] Egypt has also been called an African regional power by academics. [75]

However Professor Asher Susser of Tel Aviv University talks of the "decline of the relative importance" of Egypt and says, "During Gamal Abdul Nasser’s presidency, Egypt was a leading force in setting the regional agenda. Nowadays, Egypt has very little influence beyond its borders." [76] Saad Eddin Ibrahim also says Egypt's status as a regional power under Hosni Mubarak has weakened steadily. [77]

Egypt's population is the largest in the Middle East, North Africa, and the Arab world, and the second largest in Africa. It has the second largest GDP in North Africa, which is the third largest in the Arab world, and fourth largest in Africa and the Middle East. [78] Egypt has the largest military in the Arab world and Africa by manpower, and the second largest in the Middle East. [79] Egypt's military budget is the third largest in Africa, fourth largest among Arab states, and fifth largest in the Middle East. [80]

Iran

Iran is considered by academics and experts to be a regional power in the Middle East.[81] [82] John Simpson (World affairs editor, BBC News) named Iran as the region's superpower:"Iran is now a regional superpower, and ever since the Islamic revolution in 1978-9, we in the West have consistently misunderstood it." [83] Barry Rubin professor at the Interdisciplinary Center (IDC) in Herzliya, Israel published result of his research in 'The Middle East Review of International Affairs (MERIA)': "Iran is the sole regional great power today in the Middle East, because no Arab state can claim that title. It has expanded influence in Iraq, Lebanon, and among the Palestinians as well as in parts of Afghanistan. In many ways it is the patron of Syria. The growing Shi'a-Sunni rift is adding to Iran's influence, which is also helped by the high price of oil; even without nuclear weapons." [84] British House of Commons's Foreign Affairs Committee have noted Iran as an emerging great power. [85]

Iran is Persia one of the most ancient and influential cultures in the world. In fact Iran was formally called Persia until 1935. The Persian influence can been seen throughout the region and the world with many countries speaking Persian such as Afghanistan, or for its renowned poets such as Rumi.

Iran has the third largest GDP in the region.[86] It has the fourth largest defence budget in the region,[87] however, Iran's military was called the Middle East's most powerful by General John Abizaid chief of United States Central Command. [88] Iran has developed Medium-range ballistic missiles.

Iran is the world's fourth largest producer, [89] and fifth largest exporter [90] of oil. It has the third largest proven reserves of oil in the world. [91] Iran is also the sixth largest producer of natural gas, [92] with the second largest proven reserves. [93]

Israel

Israel has been considered a strong regional power in the Middle East since the 1967 Six-Day War and 1973 Yom Kippur War. In both cases Israel defeated numerically superior armies. Israel is called a regional power in a report written in conjunction with the U.S. Army War College. [94] It has also been called a Middle Eastern regional power by other academics. [95][96] In the opinion of Avner Cohen and a former acting director of the Arms Control and Disarmament Agency; "Israel is a regional power, in fact the strongest military power in the region." [97]

Israel has the fourth largest GDP in the region.[98] It has the third largest defence budget in the region.[99] Israel is the only country in the region thought to have nuclear weapons, which could be delivered by the Jericho medium-range ballistic missile.

Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia has been called a regional power by former Japanese foreign minister Yoriko Kawaguchi.[100] BBC News has called Saudi Arabia a "regional power-house".[101] YaleGlobal Online has an article describing Saudi as "a leading regional power".[102] CNN,[103] and PBS[104] have also described the country as a regional power.

Saudi Arabia has a special significance in the Muslim world, as it contains Islam's two most holy sites, Mecca and Medina. It has the second largest GDP in the region after Turkey,[105] and the largest defence budget in the region.[106] The Kingdom is also the worlds largest producer [107] and exporter [108] of crude oil, and has the worlds largest proven reserves of crude oil.[109]

Turkey

Turkey is situated in Asia-Minor with a small part in Southeast Europe. Although it is not normally considered part of the Middle East, it borders Iran, Iraq, and Syria, and has been called a regional power in the Middle East by academics.;[110][111][112] [113] According to Professor Asher Susser of Tel Aviv University; "What is new about the Middle East is the rise of non-Arab players, namely Turkey, Israel and particularly Iran, as regional powers in parallel with the decline of the relative importance of what were once key Arab players in the region, namely Egypt, Syria, Iraq and Saudi Arabia." And "Turkish participation in the Middle East is unavoidable and its territorial proximity to the Middle East alone is significant" [114]

Turkey's GDP is larger than any Middle Eastern countries.[115] Turkey is a member of NATO. Its military expenditure is second, after Saudi Arabia but ahead of Iran. [116]

United States

The United States is considered a Superpower. [117] The Encyclopedia Britannica states that "the Soviet collapse left the United States with undisputed status as the world's most powerful country", and calls the U.S. "the world's sole superpower". [118]

It has the largest GDP in the world.[119] The U.S. also has the third largest population in the world, and is a permanent member of the UN security council. The U.S. defence budget is the largest in the world, [120] and is almost equal to the combined military spending of all other nations. [121] The U.S. has the second largest stockpile of nuclear weapons and inter-continental ballistic missiles in the world. [122]It also has more aircraft carriers and ballistic missile submarines than any other country, and is the only country apart from Russia that operates strategic bomber aircraft. The U.S. is the most influential member in NATO.

U.S. oil production is the third highest in the world [123] It is the world's second largest producer of natural gas. [124]

Australia

Australia is considered a regional power by academics at the Australian National University. [125] Former Australian foreign minister Alexander Downer has claimed "Australia is an especially significant regional power in our neighbourhood". [126]

Australia is the world’s sixth largest country by area. It has by far the largest GDP in Oceania, and the fourth largest in the wider Asia-Pacific region. [127] Australia's defence spending is also the largest in Oceania, and fourth largest in Asia-Pacific. [128] Australia is a member of the ANZUS military alliance with the USA and New Zealand.

India

India has been identified as an emerging superpower[163] or existing regional superpower[164]. It is also often referred as South Asia's natural Hegemon[162] because of its overwhelming dominance of South Asia in all aspects—political, economic, military, cultural, and demographic. In fact, the term "South Asia" is a recent contruct. The region historically has been called the Indian subcontinent. India contributes 77% of South Asia's population, 75% of its GDP, 77 percent of its territory, 80% of its defence budget, and 82% of its armed forces.[162]

India and Pakstan is one of the world's oldest civilization and its most populous democracy. It has the largest GDP in the region,[129] and has impressive GDP growth which sits today at 9.2%[130] According to political analyst C. Raja Mohan: "India's omnidirectional engagement with the great powers has paid off handsomely. Never before has India had such expansive relations with all the major powers at the same time—a result not only of India's increasing weight in the global economy and its growing power potential, but also of New Delhi's savvy and persistent diplomacy." [131]

It has the largest defence budget in the region. [132] India possesses nuclear weapons, intermediate-range ballistic missiles, and is the only South Asian country with an aircraft carrier. In 2007, India became the fourth nation in the world to complete atmospheric reentry for Manned Space Mission, an indication of its recent scientific progress.[133]

Indonesia

Indonesia has been described as a regional power in Southeast Asia by academia. [134] [135] [136] [137] [138] [139] According to the Power and Interest News Report; "Given Jakarta's powerful military establishment and continuing investment in military hardware and development, Indonesia will emerge as an even more powerful player in Southeast Asia. If the state is able to hold together in the face of the mounting social, economic and natural challenges, it will potentially emerge as an even more powerful regional player." [140]

Indonesia has by far the largest population in Southeast Asia, and the fourth largest in the world. It has the largest GDP in the region, [141] but only has the fourth largest defence spending. [142]

South Africa

South Africa has been described by academics as an emerging or existing regional power. [143] [144] [145] [146] According to academics at Sheffield University; "since 1994, the economic and political power of democratic South Africa has enjoyed unfettered access to the entire (Southern Africa) region. Take-overs of local firms and direct investment by South African companies dominate neighbouring economies dependent on Pretoria for transport links and energy supplies. No less important are those occasions when Pretoria chooses not to flex its muscles, notably the current crisis in Zimbabwe." [147]

South Africa has the largest GDP in Africa [148], and the largest defence budget of any African country. [149]

Nigeria

Nigeria has been called an "emerging regional power",[150] "a regional power in West Africa," [151] and "the undisputed regional power in the West African region"[152] by academics. Former U.S Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Thomas R. Pickering has called Nigeria "a regional power house", that plays "an important role in West Africa". [153]

Nigeria has the largest population in Africa, and the 9th largest in the world. Nigeria's GDP is by far the largest in West Africa, and the second largest in Africa. [154] Nigeria has the largest defence budget in West Africa, and the 7th largest in Africa. [155] Nigeria is Africa's largest and the world's 12th largest producer of Crude oil.[156] It also has the 10th largest Oil reserves in the world. [157]

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Power in international relations
Types of power Power (sociology) · Soft power · Hard power · Political power (Power politics • Realpolitik)
Types of power status Great power · Middle power · Regional power · Superpower (Energy superpower) · Hyperpower
Geopolitics African Century · American Century · Asian Century · British Moment · Chinese Century · European Century · Indian Century · Pacific Century
Theory and history Historical powers · Polarity in international relations · Power projection · Power transition theory · Second superpower · Superpower collapse · Superpower disengagement
Organizations and groups G8 · G8+5 · BRIMC · BRIC · Next Eleven · SCO
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