7.1 Characteristics of Superpowers Flashcards
7.1a Characteristics of Superpowers
superpower
a superpower is a country with the ability to protect its dominating power and influence anywhere in the world
e.g. USA
7.1a Characteristics of Superpowers
emerging superpowers
emerging superpowers are countries with a large role in one or more superpower characteristics and growing influence
e.g. China, Brazil, India,Russia
7.1a Characteristics of Superpowers
regional powers
regional powers can project dominating power and influence over other con tires within the continent or region
UK, Germany, France in Europe
Saudi Arabia in the Middle East
South Africa and Nigeria in Africa
7.1a Characteristics of Superpowers
economic
Economic power is characterised by large GDP, high % of international trade, currency used as reserve currency. This underpins the other characteristics.
A large GDP creates influence as a potential market and as the home of TNCs which create FDI.
The USA has the world’s largest total GDP - $18.5 trillion.
7.1a Characteristics of Superpowers
political
Political power is the ability to influence the policies of other countries through the dominance of negotiations (both bilaterally and through international organisations).
Many international organisations do not equally weight members.
Voting power may be determined by economic contribution, historical role in founding of organisation (UN), population, etc.
Political power is often due to dominance in other characteristics. E.g. large economy gives it power in trade talks, military power can make countries a threat - giving them political power
7.1a Characteristics of Superpowers
military
military power with a global reach means they can be used to achieve geopolitical goals
global influence through blue water (ocean going) navy and drone, missile and satellite technology
indicators of power: army size, defence spending, nuclear weapons, inter-continental ballistic missiles (ICBMs), size of blue water navy, arms exporter, leading international military organisations
military power is dependent on the Human Resources because of the number of military personnel that can be deployed
military power is dependent on economic power because the budget determines investment in military technology, which increases power
Russia has the most active nuclear warheads (1790) and the USA is in second place (1750)
7.1a Characteristics of Superpowers
cultural
cultural power is the ability to influence the beliefs, values, ideology and way of life in other countries
cultural power is achieved through:
the dominance of media
TNCs or migrants introducing cultural products
imposition of viewpoint in international agreements (through political power)
WESTERNISATION
the USA has the highest percentage of the world’s largest TNCs- 27%
7.1a Characteristics of Superpowers
demographic
a large population leads to a large diaspore and greater number of workers at TNCs
demographic power assist s economic power through a large market and economies of scale (so more profit)
China has the largest population- 1.3billion
7.1a Characteristics of Superpowers
access to resources
resource power is the control of access to physical resources such as energy and minerals
resource power provides inputs for economic growth because their resources can be exported at a high price, making it essential for economic growth
resources may be internally located, or accessed through reliable source countries using transport pathways
OPEC and oil
7.1b Hard and Soft Power Spectrum
hard power
hard power is using military and economic influence (trade deals, sanctions) to coerce a country to act in a particular way
7.1b Hard and Soft Power Spectrum
soft power
soft power is more subtle persuasion of countries to act in a particular way, on the basis that the persuader is respected and appealing
western liberal democracies have the greatest international rankings of soft power
7.1b Hard and Soft Power Spectrum
smart power
The political scientist Joseph Nye of Harvard University argued that in the 21st century the most successful countries are those that combine hard and soft power into smart power (a ‘carrot and stick’ approach)
7.1b Hard and Soft Power Spectrum
maintaining power
Mechanisms for maintaining power sit on a spectrum from hard to soft power- for example trade agreements or selective development and lie somewhere in between.
In the past, military force and hard power were the common mechanisms for achieving and maintaining power.
Soft power has become more common as a way of gaining influence and maintaining power, by creating economic and political alliances. However, hard power still exists.
7.1c The Relative Importance of Characteristics and Mechanisms
MacKinder’s geo-strategic location theory (the Heartland Theory)
In the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries the idea that power came from controlling vast land areas was important. In 1904 the British geographer Halford Mackinder produced an influential geo-strategic location theory. (Geo-strategic = policies in terms of securing needed resources, both within the country and globally). This is called the Heartland Theory.
It states that the world island of Europe, Asia and Africa contains most of the world’s natural resources. The Heartland is an area of central Asia, bordered by the Himalayas, the Russian steppes and the Arctic. This is very hard to invade, because of physical barriers in the way. It is a power-base, which allows control of the world island.
7.1c The Relative Importance of Characteristics and Mechanisms
the influence of MacKinder’s geo-strategic location theory (the Heartland Theory)
it persuaded the USA, UK and other European countries that Russia needed to be ‘contained’ to prevent it from spreading outward by taking over new areas close by
it reinforced the idea that control of physical resources (land, mineral wealth) was important
