7.2 Patterns of Power Flashcards
7.2a The Imperial Period
British empire
from the 1400s Britain sailed, explored and claimed land as its own
commodities such as cotton, slaves and spices were used to set up trading companies which generated income and allowed for further exploration
raw materials were brought back to the big shipping areas (Liverpool, London, Bristol) which fuelled the industrial revolution
Britain took most countries using its hard power, then introduced its legal and education systems, as well as infrastructure, language, sport and culture
to maintain power, Britain highly populated the countries (a form of soft power?) with British military, farmers and administrators, with the argument that it bought stability and trade
Britain had the largest empire, reaching its peak in 1920 when it controlled 24% of land globally
7.2a The Imperial Period
multipolar world 1919-1939
European powers (Spain, Portugal, Britain, France and Germany) conquered land in the America, Africa and Asia
7.2a The Imperial Period
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7.2b Indirect Control
indirect political control
Dominance in international decision making within the United Nations, G7, World Trade Organisation and others
some countries have disproportionate influence
7.2b Indirect Control
indirect military control
the threat of large, powerful armed forces with global reach
selective arms trading that provides weapons to key allies but not enemies
7.2b Indirect Control
indirect economic control
these of trade deals and trade blocs to create economic alliances that create interdependence between like-minded countries
7.2b Indirect Control
indirect cultural control
the use of global media, arts, culture, and global TNC brands to spread the ideology (e.g. democracy, capitalism and freedom) and values of a country through consumer culture
7.2b Indirect Control
The Cold War
The Cold War was a period of tension between ideologically rival superpowers: the capitalist USA and communist USSR
It lasted from 1945 to 1990
7.2c Geopolitical Stability and Risk
history of power
1800-1919: British Empire - uni-polar
1919-1939: Inter-war period - multi-polar
1945-1990: USA vs USSR, Cold War - bi-polar
1990-2030: USA globalised era - uni-polar
2030 onwards: Future - Unipolar? Bi-polar? Multi-polar?
7.2c Geopolitical Stability and Risk
patterns of power
uni-polar: one globally dominant superpower or hegemon, unchallenged by other countries
bi-polar: two opposing superpowers with different ideologies but broadly equal in status
multi-polar: many broadly equal powers, with regional influence but less global influence
7.2c Geopolitical Stability and Risk
stability and risk of uni-polar world
stable:
the is only one leader but the costs of being the hegemon are high and hard to sustain
the USA has been called ‘the world’s policemen’, meaning it is involved in numerous trouble spots all at the same time
7.2c Geopolitical Stability and Risk
stability and risk of bi-polar world
unstable:
bi-polar situations involve. tense stand-off between opposing powers and might be described as high risk ‘scary but stable’
during the Cold War, there were occasions where the USA and USSR almost ended up in a ‘hot’ war
7.2c Geopolitical Stability and Risk
stability and risk of multi-polar world
unstable:
no dominant power created. power vacuum allowing the rise of Nazi Germany and Imperial Japan, with no country prepared to stop them
7.2c Geopolitical Stability and Risk
the future
western-dominated paradigm overcomes its current weaknesses and disunity:
Renewed democratic revolution
Challenges power can be successfully encouraged to integrate
‘liber internationalism renewed’
challengers to western-led paradigm (China and Russia) to establish multi-polar world:
‘21st- century concert’
19th century concert of nations
rise of multi-polarists turns violent:
Spiralling pattern of conflict
‘geostrategic meltdown’
Similar to concert of nations strategic free for all
Similar to outcome 2 but crucially different because of conflict
7.2c Geopolitical Stability and Risk
current state of significant flux/ historical transition
Domestic political situations of key players in the international arena:
The breakdown of the political centre in several advanced democracies
Centrifugal (moving away from centre) tendencies of regional and international structures, e.g. Brexit vote
Accentuation of authoritarianism in Russia and China
Collapse of American moral leadership
