Power in international relations is defined in several different ways. Modern discourse generally speaks in terms of state power, indicating both economic and military power. Those states that have significant amounts of power within the international system are referred to as
middle powers,
regional powers,
great powers,
superpowers, or
hegemons, although there is no commonly accepted standard for what defines a powerful state. The
G7, the
BRIC nations and the
G20 are seen as forum of governments that exercise varying degrees of influence within the international system.
