Enforcers, Entrepreneurs, and Survivors: How the Mafia Has Adapted to Change

GIGA Research Programme:
Dynamics of Violence and Security Cooperation
___________________________

Potencias regionales en la política internacional:
conceptos y enfoques de análisis
Detlef Nolte
N° 30

www.giga-hamburg.de/workingpapers

October 2006

GIGA-WP-30/2006

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GIGA-WP-30/2006

Potencias regionales en lapolítica internacional:
conceptos y enfoques de análisis

Resumen
El artículo toma como punto de partida el pronóstico presentado en parte de la literatura
científica respecto a que conflictos para imponer o impedir una hegemonía regional se
tornarán más virulentos en el futuro. En ese contexto se discute el papel y la importancia
que corresponde a las potencias regionales según diferentesenfoques de análisis en las
relaciones internacionales. Se presentan algunas teorías que tienen como objeto las jerarquías de poder en la política internacional. El artículo expone la diferenciación conceptual
entre potencias regionales y potencias medianas tradicionales. Se propone un concepto
analítico de potencia regional. Además, en el estudio se aborda el tema de la integración
regional yel papel de las potencias regionales y se discute el valor analítico del concepto
de hegemonía cooperativa para el estudio de las potencias regionales.

Key words:

International Relations, Power, Power Transition, Regional Powers, Middle
Powers, Cooperative Hegemony

The present paper has been elaborated in the context of the GIGA working group on “Regional Powers“. It was presented atthe 3° Congreso Latinoamericano de Ciencia Política
“Democracia y Desigualdades” at the University Campinas, Brazil, 4-6 September 2006.
Thanks are due to numerous attendees at the conference and the members of the GIGA
working group for valuable comments.

Dr. Detlef Nolte
is Director of the GIGA Institute for Ibero-American Studies and Professor of Political Science and Latin AmericanStudies at the University of Hamburg.
Contact: nolte@giga-hamburg.de ⋅ Website: http://staff.giga-hamburg.de/nolte

Summary
Regional Powers in International Relations: Analytical Concepts and Research
Approaches
Much of recent international relations literature argues conflicts to achieve or to frustrate
regional dominance will become more virulent in the future. In this context we examine...