1. Amazing Transformations: When do Great Powers Successfully Transform their Power?
- Author
-
Bogatyrenko, Olga
- Subjects
- *
GREAT powers (International relations) , *BALANCE of power , *INTERNATIONAL relations ,FOREIGN relations of the United States - Abstract
Today, the United States faces a decision about how to deal with an environment in which its commitments exceed its capabilities and its power is overstretched. This paper argues that among several alternatives â" divestment of resources, sustaining the status quo or transforming its power â" the latter is a most desirable long-term alternative that can arrest and possibly reverse its overstretch and improve its relative power position. Is it, however, a viable alternative? This paper looks at all the cases when great powers (US, UK, and Russia) attempted to transform their power and analyzes causes of their success and failure. The finding is that institutional rigidity and a lack of fungible resources are the greatest obstacles to a successful transformation of power. ..PAT.-Unpublished Manuscript [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2008