Now I'm sure you were met with vague responses like 'when you know you know',

or that 'the feeling

is indescribable'. Just like love, power is more easily experienced than it is defined. However, as
politics is essentially the study of power, many attempts have been made to accurately describe what
power is. So, unlike your Google search on love, this article will try to put into words exactly what
power is in the context of international relations.

What is Hard Power, Soft Power, and Smart Power?

There are three main types of international power: hard, soft, and smart.

 Hard power is defined as when a country uses economic and military coercion to influence the interests or behaviors of
other countries or political bodies. This political power is deemed aggressive as it is usually imposed on a lesser body or
government by a much superior power, making it instantly effective. Moreover, it is often backed by the superior power
owning natural resources, economic superiority, or even a higher population.