  A first attempt to understand hadron dynamics at low energies in terms of the
fundamental quark and gluon degrees of freedom incorporates the effects of the
gluonic field into a potential depending only on the spatial positions of the
quarks, which are considered in the infinite mass limit. A suitable framework
for calculating such potentials between static quarks, i.e.\ a generalization
of the Wilson loop will be discussed.
  Making a connection with recent Monte Carlo lattice simulations for the
lowest two energies of a system of two quarks and two antiquarks, the static
$qq\bar{q}\bar{q}$-potential will be calculated in perturbation theory to
fourth order. The result will be shown to be exactly equal to the prediction of
a straightforward two-body approach, which in Monte Carlo lattice simulations
has been found to be a reasonable approximation for very small interquark
distances.
