mocnosti

Mocnost (plural mocnosti) is a political term used to describe a state with substantial and widely recognized influence in international affairs. The plural mocnosti refers to great powers, i.e., states whose military, economic and diplomatic capabilities enable them to shape events beyond their borders.

Definition and criteria vary; common features include large populations or resources, strong or advanced economies, powerful militaries, technological leadership, and the ability to project power regionally or globally. Influence is exercised through diplomacy, alliance networks, trade, and cultural or ideological reach. There is no single catalog of mocnosti, and the composition changes over time as relative power shifts.

Historically, European great powers in the early modern to nineteenth century included the United Kingdom, France, Russia, Austria-Hungary, and Prussia/Germany. In the twentieth century, the term is often used to refer to the United States, the Soviet Union (later Russia), the United Kingdom, France, and China, with other powers such as Japan and Germany playing major roles at different times. In the post–Cold War era, the concept of great powers generally includes the United States, China, and Russia, with other powers contributing to regional influence, economics, and diplomacy.

Scholars debate the criteria for mocnosti, with some emphasizing hard power—military and economic size—while others highlight soft power, leadership, and regional influence. The term contrasts with regional powers or middle powers, which have significant influence but on a smaller scale.