7.2 Changing patterns of power Flashcards
What are the three different types of world?
Unipolar
Bipolar
Multipolar
What is a unipolar world and give an example
One superpower has dominance e.g. The British Empire or the US dominated world of recent times
What is a bipolar world and give an example
Two superpowers with opposite ideologies compete for dominance e.g. the USA and the USSR during the Cold War (1945-1990).
What is a multipolar world and give an example
Many superpowers and emerging powers compete for dominance in different regions. This is what we see now and will probably see in the near future.
How has power shifted over time?
British empire showed a unipolar world and then 1910-1945 was a multipower world. In the mid 1900s after WW2, power was held by the USA and the Soviet Union, who held two completely opposing ideologies. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, we moved to a unipolar world where the USA held dominance. Now, we are starting to move out of a unipolar world and towards a multipolar world. However, by the end of the century, we will again be in a bipolar world with China and the USA dominating.
What was the British Empire like?
This showed a high point of super power polarity. Britain was a relatively small country and yet ruled over 20% of the world’s population and 25% of its land area. The Royal Navy was twice as large as the next largest navy (Germany) and they protected colonies and trade routes
How was India controlled by Britain
-military personnel, civil servants and entrepreneurs emigrated to India
-educated Indians occupies many lower administrative positions
-Symbols of imperial power
-process of acculturation as traditions like cricket, afternoon tea and the English language were introduced
-strict social order
-modernization: construction of 61,000km of railway for troops and goods
What were the two different phases of growth of the British empire?
Mercantile phase 1600-1850 - accumulation of territory and growth of slavery
Imperial phase 1850-1945 - conquest of vast territories, direct rule and domination
What made the period between 1919 to 1939 an increasingly multi-polar one?
-Germany became more powerful during the 1930s as Hitler rearmed the country and prepared for war
-Imperial Japan became an increasing power in Asia
-The US became economically and militarily stronger, challenging Britain’s traditional global leadership
-European powers were weakened by poor economic performance and the cost of maintaining empires
During the post-colonial era after WW2, why did many colonial powers lose their colonies?
-post war bankruptcy
-focus on post war reconstruction at home
-anti-colonial movements, for example from India, grew increasingly strong and couldn’t be ignored
What happened geopolitically during the cold war era?
Superficially, it seems to be a time of stable relations. However, there was conflict with countries aligning themselves with either the US or the Soviet Union. There were numerous proxy wars:
-Korean War
-Vietnam War
-Cuban Missile crisis
What is neo-colonialism?
an indirect form of control by which developed countries exercise a degree of control over the development of their former colonies
What are the different mechanisms of neo-colonial control?
Strategic alliances
Aid
TNC investment
Terms of trade
Debt
How are strategic alliances a mechanism for neo-colonialism control?
Military alliances between developing nations and superpowers make the developing nation dependent on military aid and equipment for the superpower
How is aid a mechanism for neo-colonialism control?
Development aid comes with ‘strings attached’, forcing the recipient to agree to policies and spending priorities suggested by the aid donor
