View source for User:RobSmith/Essay:Understanding Power Politics

International Power Politics can be best understood by grasping two fundemental issues that are not dependent upon [[ideology]] or [[personalities]].  They are [[Trade]] and [[Arms production]]

==International trade==
*Either trade crosses borders or armies cross borders.
*A nation is either an net debtor or net asset holder in the balance of trade.
*Trade surpluses and trade deficits are like the ebb and flow of tides; likewise manpower in the form of technical experts ebb and flow to nations with trade surpluses.

==Arms production==
*A nation is either a net producer or net importer in the arms trade.

===Historical examples===
====Prior to WWI====
'''Net producers'''
*Germany
*France
*Great Britian

'''Net importers'''
*United States
*Russia

====Prior to WWII====
'''Net producers'''
*Germany
*France
*Great Britian
*Japan

'''Net importers'''
*United States
*Russia
*China

====Cold War====
'''Net producers'''
*Germany
*France
*Great Britian
*United States
*Russia
*Israel
*South Africa

'''Net importers'''
*Japan
*China

====Post-Soviet era====
'''Net producers'''
*Germany
*France
*Great Britian
*United States
*Russia
*Israel
*China
*North Korea

'''Net importers'''
*Japan
*South Africa