The External Needs and Goals of States

3.3. Power, Influence, and Prestige

While security and prosperity ensure a state’s survival and stability, the pursuit of power and prestige shapes its status within the international hierarchy. Power can be understood in multiple dimensions—military, economic, diplomatic, and cultural—and is often pursued to shape international outcomes in line with national interests. Great powers such as the United States, China, and Russia seek to influence global governance, set international norms, and project their values abroad.

Joseph Nye’s concept of “soft power” expanded the understanding of how states achieve influence. Soft power rests not on coercion or payment, but on attraction—through culture, political ideals, and foreign policy legitimacy. For instance, the European Union exercises normative power by promoting democratic values and human rights, while China’s Belt and Road Initiative reflects a combination of economic and strategic goals aimed at expanding its sphere of influence through infrastructure investment and trade connectivity.

Prestige, often intertwined with power, is another external goal that affects how states behave. Recognition and respect within the international community confer legitimacy and enhance a state’s ability to pursue its interests. Middle powers like France, Japan, and Brazil often leverage their diplomatic and cultural influence to amplify their global roles beyond their material capabilities. Prestige is also closely linked to a state’s identity and historical narrative—nations often seek to restore or maintain a perceived rightful status in the world, as seen in Russia’s efforts to reassert itself as a major global power.