The German Reunification -Will It Give Rise to a Great Power Again?

Intemational power is a social relation with various aspects but always has some simple components which themselves are special kinds of power. Each kind alone can establish great international power but no great power in permanence. International power, and especially great power, needs a combination of the following kinds of power : -Military power, i.e, direct ability to force. -Economic power. Here we have to distinguish between (1) wealth, i.e, purchasing or demand power and (2) supply power, i,e. the disposal of goods, information or capabilities which are not offered by other suppliers at the same quality, quantity or price. The extreme is caued a monopoly. (3) autarky, i.e. economic selfsufficiency, esp. during crises. -Socio-cultural power, i.e. model institutions, -organizations, Ievels of moral and cultural achievements. They perfect a stage of development (in a good or bad sense) which is attained also by others, but in a less perfect form. Or they innovatively lead on an entirely new stage of development. These kinds of institutions, organizations etc. can generate military or economic power, yet socio-cultural power by itself is no direct power but rather influence, i.e. indirect power generated by prestige. Other peoples support or imitate the subject of socio-cultural power because they view it as a model and desire to be appreciated by it. But they do it voluntarily and are not forced by direct, military or economic power. -At last there is an area-specific organizational power, i.e. a capacity for prompt and appropriate reaction to international problems. It is based upon international experience, information, rationality of internal organization etc. and should be well distinguished from the other kinds of power. Further we have to mention that power, also international power, is relative. More precisely said: power is asymmetrically reciprocal. The power of a country A, in relation to country B, is the greater the smaller the power of B is. The power of A exists only by the weakness of B. This need not mean an absolute powerlessness of B, but it means higher risk ofloss and damage than A has in case ofconflict. As power depends upon the weakness of others, it turns out to be unstable in the field of international relations. For the weaker often strive, of course, to change the unequal relation which is to their disadvantage. The international system is, therefore, when mainly consisting of power relations, very unstable