Hard power

[1] According to Joseph Nye, hard power involves "the ability to use the carrots and sticks of economic and military might to make others follow your will".

[2] Here, "carrots" stand for inducements such as the reduction of trade barriers, the offer of an alliance or the promise of military protection.

Hard power describes a nation or political body's ability to use economic incentives or military strength to influence other actors' behaviors.

[citation needed] Although the term hard power generally refers to diplomacy, it can also be used to describe forms of negotiation which involve pressure or threats as leverage.

In part by referring to "War on Terrorism," George W. Bush administration used hard power measures to uproot Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein and to handle subsequent crisis in Iraq.