The core of the "Power and Interdependence" framework, pioneered by Robert Keohane and Joseph Nye , suggests that the traditional "Realist" view of international relations—where states are the only actors and military force is the primary currency of power—is increasingly insufficient in a globalised world. I. The Shift to Complex Interdependence
: Among modern, industrialised democracies, the cost of using force is high and its utility for solving economic or ecological problems is low. II. Power in an Interdependent World
: Military security no longer consistently dominates. Economic, environmental, and social issues (often called "low politics") are frequently at the forefront of national agendas. Power & Interdependence
Power can be exercised by setting the (deciding what gets talked about) rather than just winning an argument. III. The Role of International Regimes
Traditional international relations often focus on "high politics" (security and survival). Keohane and Nye introduced to describe a world where: The core of the "Power and Interdependence" framework,
The less-dependent state often has more in negotiations.
As countries become more intertwined, they create —sets of rules, norms, and procedures that govern specific issue areas (like the World Trade Organization for trade). Power can be exercised by setting the (deciding
: Beyond official state-to-state diplomacy, there are transgovernmental ties between bureaucrats and transnational links between corporations and NGOs.