The Story of Power
We have established by now that I am an overthinker. A multitude of things occupy my thoughts at all hours of the day, and something I have been thinking frequently about is the world—how it turns, how it burns, who it’s run by, and how they never stop demanding.
I think about how one decision, in a city I have never set foot in, ripples across the ocean and lands on my doorstep like a bill-collector. This is global affairs, international relations, geopolitics—call it what you must. They are simply big words for a simple truth: we are tangled together, bound by invisible threads—and sometimes, the whole thing catches fire.
So, this is Global Affairs 101—class is in session.
Lesson 1: What even is global affairs?
(And why should you care?)
Global affairs, at its core, is how states interact with one another. Some days, these interactions revolve around peace treaties and trade deals. On other days, they could be sanctions, wars, and the occasional Twitter beef between diplomats.
It’s the reason why gas prices go up when a conflict erupts in the Middle East, why you can’t use TikTok in certain countries, and why a random election in France might somehow affect the price of your coffee in Brazil. It’s a tangled web of politics, economics, history, culture, and the ever-present human stubbornness.
But let’s break it down even further.
The world as a group project
Think of the world as one big group project—at some point in your life you may have had to work with classmates to deliver a project for a certain class. You had to manage tasks, collaborate, and sometimes even pull the weight of those who did not live up to their end of the deal—congratulations, you’re already halfway to understanding global affairs.
Let’s introduce some key players—your chaotic group project teammates on the world stage:
The United States—think of them as that annoying kid who wants to take charge of everything, and oftentimes steamrolls everyone else.
The European Union—they’re the group who tries to work together but they end up bickering over whose part is the hardest.
China—I don’t want to reinforce any stereotypes with this but, they’re the quiet kid who always turns in the best-looking project and has the best grades.
Russia—is that kid who wants bragging rights for the idea but lowkey sabotages the whole assignment.
Developing countries (or the Global South, depending on context)—are the kids in the back that did most of the work but never get enough credit.
In the end, the project is turned in, incomplete, incohesive, fractured, with all members of the group seething with resentment. Everyone has an agenda, and no one wants to be the weak link. And yet, somehow, the world still spins.
Power and control: the name of the game
At the heart of global affairs is power. Who has it? Who wants it? Who’s losing it? This is a game that has been played for centuries, from ancient empires to modern nation-states. However, power doesn’t just stem from brute force or wealth—it comes in different forms.
This is where hard power and soft power come into play: the two main ways countries exert their influence on the world stage.
Hard power: the language of force
Hard Power is the classic version of power—where military might, economic sanctions, and direct coercion are involved. Think of it this way: hard power is like a mob boss (threats and force):
Military power: Who has the biggest army and the most nukes? (Spoiler alert: the U.S. and Russia lead in nukes by a ridiculously large margin).
Economic power: Who controls trade, technology, and resources? (China has been on the come up and the West is scrambling because of it).
Sanctions and embargoes: This is when states say “We won’t bomb you, but we’ll cut you off from the global economy.” (See: Cuba, Russia, Iran, North Korea).
Soft power: the art of persuasion
Soft power is the subtle, seductive kind of power. Instead of forcing compliance, countries persuade, attract, and influence others to align with them. It’s built on culture, diplomacy, and ideology. An easier way to look at it is imagining soft power as an influencer (winning people over with charm):
Cultural power: Think about how Nollywood films shape African pop culture, how anime turned Japan into a global cultural powerhouse, or how French haute couture dictates fashion trends worldwide.
Diplomatic power: The European Union’s ability to bring countries to the table, the UN’s peacekeeping efforts, or even the Vatican’s moral influence on global policies.
Economic influence: Instead of war, why not just buy everything? (See: China’s Belt and Road Initiative, the UAE turning entire cities into global trade hubs, or Qatar using sportswashing to boost its global image).
Looking back at that group project we were working on, we can have a sense of which category each of the members fall in:
The U.S. plays both cards (this is called Smart Power)—massive military and global pop culture dominance.
China leans heavily on economic influence but isn’t afraid of military threats.
Russia? Mostly hard power—sanctions, war, cyberattacks, energy blackmail.
The EU is the ultimate soft power player—diplomacy, economic alliances, and rules-based influence.
Countries that rely on hard power don’t tend to ask for cooperation—they demand it. Soft power makes people want to follow you—not because they have to, but because they admire, respect, or benefit from what you offer. Power, in any form, decides who gets to shape the world and who gets shaped by it. And in today’s global chessboard, the pieces are moving fast.
Why it matters, even here, even now
Perhaps you might be reading this in your room, a cup of coffee in hand, wondering why any of this should be of any importance to you. After all, you are not in the UN, not a president, not a diplomat whose briefcase is filled with classified secrets. Well, the reality is: the way these power struggles unfold affects you—more than you might think.
The truth of the matter, my dear friend, is that the world does not care if you are paying attention. Global affairs affect the economy—the war in Ukraine has spiked food and energy prices worldwide; it affects your favorite apps—TikTok or even Instagram can get banned because of geopolitical tensions; and even your future—climate policies, immigration laws, and international conflicts directly affect your daily life.
This is the world and all of its affairs. A messy, relentless, tangled thing. A never-ending project, a book with too many authors, a story that will never cease to write itself.
And you? Whether you choose to or not, are already a part of it.
See you next lesson!
