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What is a Power Vacuum?

Sherry Holetzky
Sherry Holetzky

A power vacuum can quickly become a dangerous situation. It is a political term used to describe a vacancy or weakness in the power structure of a nation or region. The danger is that a group that does not have the country or region’s best interests in mind may fill the vacuum before an appropriate new government can be installed. This is whatsome fear will occur if the U.S. and Coalition forces leave Iraq too soon, allowing the not yet firmly established government to be taken over by those who have more concern for their own interests than they do for the Iraqi people.

Iraq is a good example of a power vacuum, because it is what occurs when a long time dictator is ousted or displaced for whatever reason. This type of situation may also occur after a civil war or other insurrection where various factions rise up to demand more control over their own governance. Other causes include coup d`etat which in effect is comparable to the latter. A vacuum may also occur, and is very likely, following a constitutional crisis.

Military force is frequently employed in situations where a power vacuum occurs.
Military force is frequently employed in situations where a power vacuum occurs.

A civil war may leave a country without leadership or with a weakened government, allowing the most powerful of the fighting forces to take over. A coup generally occurs when one faction uses military means to directly overthrow a government at its highest levels. Those using force then fill the power vacuum with their own choice of leaders, which are often military leaders.

Some say the US created a power vacuum after its initial invasion of Iraq.
Some say the US created a power vacuum after its initial invasion of Iraq.

More formally, a coup would restructure the entire government rather than simply effecting a regime change. While a modern coup often still includes some form military force, or the threat thereof, it will frequently install civilian leadership to fill the power vacuum or replace the regime, instead of installing members of the military.

In the event of a constitutional crisis, a power vacuum is frequently created because a staggering number of government officials decide to step down at once, for whatever reason. This is sometimes described as a non-violent revolution, and it usually ends up leaving the government in chaos. There is little if any leadership and the sudden exodus incites many questions and arguments regarding succession. This is another reason a power vacuum may leave a government incredibly vulnerable, since in this case it may seriously hamper the ability to fill various leadership positions.

Discussion Comments

tigers88

We often think of power vacuums in a governmental context but they are just as common in a corporate context. Executives at large companies fight for power just as viciously and as consequentially as any politician. If there is a sudden resignation or termination there can be huge power vacuum that result.

nextcorrea

@gravois - Good point. You know, a lot of people think that the electoral system in America is broken but we should be grateful that we have the system that we have. For almost our entire history our country has managed to smoothly transition between leaders at all levels. We have well established term limits, clearly defined hierarchies and largely free and fair elections which have binding results.

Basically, America has managed to avoid many of the problems of power vacuums in its electoral politics. We should be proud of that, and grateful for that.

gravois

Many people have talked about power vacuums in relation to the few remaining communist countries, particularly North Korea and Cuba. Both countries have been ruled by powerful families for decades now and power has been handed down from father to son or brother to brother in the case of the Castros.

Any world leader in history will tell you that it is hard to hold on to power and sooner or later a new leader will appear from somewhere outside these families. When they are gone, or weak, there will be a tremendous power vacuum as all the actors who have been excluded from the top for so many generations suddenly fight to take control.

anon257880

Thanks, because I saw it in The Son Of Neptune and I didn't know what it meant!

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    • Military force is frequently employed in situations where a power vacuum occurs.
      By: Luisafer
      Military force is frequently employed in situations where a power vacuum occurs.
    • Some say the US created a power vacuum after its initial invasion of Iraq.
      By: bogdanserban
      Some say the US created a power vacuum after its initial invasion of Iraq.