Suurvaltapolitiikka

Suurvaltapolitiikka, known in English as great power politics, refers to the patterns of international competition and cooperation among the world's most powerful states as they seek to influence the balance of power and secure their interests. The concept focuses on how powerful states use diplomacy, military capability, economic power, and alliances to shape the international system. Distinguishing features include competition for influence, deterrence and balance of power, alliance formation, and occasionally coercive or preventive action.

Historically, great power politics have dominated European diplomacy since the 18th century, with the Concert of Europe and the balance-of-power system shaping interstate relations. In the 20th century, it was central to both World Wars and the Cold War, where major powers pursued spheres of influence and deterrence through alliances and nuclear or conventional forces. In the post–Cold War era, scholars debate whether the international system has become unipolar, bipolar, or multipolar, with rising powers such as China and others altering calculations of power.

Theoretical approaches vary: realism emphasizes structural constraints and power maximization; liberalism highlights institutions and interdependence; constructivism notes the role of norms and identities. Critics argue that great power politics can provoke arms races and conflict and may neglect non-state actors, human security, and global cooperation on issues like climate change.

Today, discussions of suurvaltapolitiikka often address strategic competition, regional balance of power, and the use of economic tools, sanctions, and diplomacy to manage rivalries while avoiding escalation.