The Potential Power Problem
The elements of national power approach to power analysis is a variant of the power‐as‐resources
approach. In this approach, power resources are treated as if they were power itself. One problem with this approach is that what functions as a power asset in one situation may be a power liability in a different situation.Although it is common practice to refer to the ‘power resources’ or ‘capabilities’ of a state as if they were possessions of the state, this practice can be misleading.