Challenges For Exisitng Superpowers Flashcards
How does a quote by Donald trump show some weakness in America?
‘Make America great again’ shows currently not seen to be as great
How have the USA and Europe been affected negatively by the global shift?
Have been left in a post-industrial state (deindustrialisation)
What have some areas affected by the global shift been able to do to counter deindustrilisation?
Some areas have recovered and formed a specialised tertiary and quaternary industry
What is an example of a country have a specialised sector after the global shift?
USA and the movement of industry out of the rust belt and to the west (Silicon Valley)
What problem is endemic in some parts of the UK, Europe and USA? (Global shift)
Unemployment especially in:
-Rust belt
-North eastern France
-Midlands/ North of the UK
Where is the US has the quaternary industry grown?
Silicon Valley, California
Sun-belt, Arizona
What has created a shift of power in the US?
Unemployment and depopulation
What is the shift of power in the US?
Old rust belt was a politically powerful region but with little industry and shrinking population power has shifted to the south and west
Why does the rust belt remain disadvantaged?
Those in the rust belt and still working in the manufacturing sector are vulnerable to the spending of the rising middle class of the east
How can job loss impact social aspects?
Cant afford: gym, nice care, healthy food
How can the local area be affected by job loss? (reinvestment)
If people aren’t earning money they they aren’t paying tax leading to the loss of services (parks and safe outdoor spaces)
What is the wider social impact of loss of parks and safe outdoor spaces? (children)
children don’t play outside and therefore don’t develop motor skills, social skills- instead they become overweight and isolated
What problem do unemployed families face? (public opinion)
Little compassion
Derogatory terms like chav
What does the lack of compassion for unemployed show about superpowers?
illustrates that inequality is jus as rife in superpower nations
What countries rise might threaten the US?
Mexico
Chile
How might the rise of countries like Mexico and Chile threaten the US?
Might cause FDI to move south due to high literacy and degree rates
What are the literacy rates for Mexico and Chile?
Mexico-95.1%
Chile- 96.9%
What are the degree rates in Mexico and Chile?
Mexico- 23%
Chile-32%
What further education plan did Chile introduce in 2016?
30 public and private universities are now free of charge for students belonging to the poorest 50% of the population
What are the degree rates in USA and UK?
US- 40%
UK- 34.4%
Not much higher than Chile or Mexico
What was debt in the EU in 2016?
£9.7 trillion
What was the UK’s debt in 2016?
£1.6 trillion (90% of GDP)
What is the problem with debt in the EU?
Drag on economic growth and had lead to austerity measures affecting wages and job opportunities
What is austerity?
policies that aim to reduce government budget deficits through spending cuts, tax increases, or a combination of both
What was the national debt of the USA in 2016?
$19 trillion
What makes the US less vulnerable to economic recession?
The global status of the dollar
Innovative global TNC’s (apple, google, Facebook)
What is the demographic of the EU?(age)
ageing fast
2025 20% of EU citizens will be over 65
What is the problem with an ageing population?
affects the workforce and increases the burden on pensions
What do projections show for the EU’s population after 2035?
It will begin to fall
How is the USA’s population ageing compared to the EU?
Less fast but still ageing
How do pension costs tend to be covered in the US?
by the individual rather than the government
What is the total US population expected to be by 2060?
415 million
What is the main political problem in the EU?
The EU does not sing with one voice
Some want greater unity (France Germany)while some do not (Brexit)
What other political issues does the EU face? (East)
Relationship with Russia are strained and immigration is a divisive issue
What political/ social factor do some regions of the US face?
Race relations (make worse by George Floyd incident and resulting BLM protests)
What political factor does the US face? (internal, purely political)
Deadlock between the Democrats and Republicans
What resources challenges does the EU face?
Energy security is an issue in the EU as it relies on imported oil & gas, some of which comes from Russia
What are the resources challenges in the US?
Increasingly energy secure as result of Oil and gas fracking
Water insecurity increasing problem in south west
what was youth unemployment in the EU in 2015?
22%
Where is youth unemployment worst in the EU?
Greece and Spain over 45%
What is the problem with high youth unemployment in the EU?
could spark a ‘lost generation’ of young people and political disaffection
How much of the USA’s GDP is Health spending?
17%
What % of Americans are overweight?
74% (30% obese)
What is the problem with a high % of the US population being overweight?
Adds significantly to healthcare costs
What high national expenditure is questioned in some existing powers?
Economic cost of maintaining a military that is effective
(Debt and austerity)
What are the parts of an effective military for a superpower?
Naval
Nuclear
Air power
Intelligence services
What is the national defence budget of the UK in 2016?
£46billion (5th largest)
How long has the nuclear debate been going on for?
since 1945
What do some argue is the benefit to nuclear weapons?
effective deterrent preventing major conflict
Who do some believe are the only one who really benefits for nuclear weapons?
The US as they are the ones who upgrade and produce them
What have many protests about military in the UK been about?
Nuclear defence system - TRIDENT
Where is the TRIDENT system kept?
On submarines as if on land it would be a point of attack
What is the name for the submarines that are part of trident?
dreadnought fleet
What does TRIDENT consist of?
4 submarines that can carry 16 missiles, armed with 8 nuclear warheads
How much will it cost to upgrade TRIDENT?
£100-250billion over next 45yrs
Why is air power so important? (Military)
This is how most modern wars are fought as it is easier ti target the opposition
Why is the air force in the UK not so powerful?
research and development means costs can escalate while defence budgets fall
What part of a military is becoming more prominent?
Drones (UAVs) allows targeting without the risk of losing people which would look bad (reduce want for war)
What did Obama say about drones and Pakistan?
Drones regularly used to strike militants in Pakistan
What is the name of the UK drone?
MQ-9 Reaper
What budget has significantly increased since 9/11?
anti-terrorism
What does anti-terrorism involve?
ground information
Electronic interception of mobile phones/ social media
What is the problem with anti-terrorism?
expensive in terms of technology and man power
How many terror attacks have the US stopped since 9/11 with anti-terrorism?
at least 39
How many potential terrorist plots have been foiled in the UK in the last 2 years?
at least 10
What does the need for anti-terrorism show about the UK and USA?
the risk that both countries are constantly under
Why is the ability to run a space programme important for a superpower?
As it shows they have the technology and financial capability to do so
Who was the first country to put a man in space?
Russia in 1961
Who was the first country to put a man on the moon?
USA in1969
Why did president Kennedy want the US to beat the USSR in the space race?
As if they didnt it would show that communism was better than capitalism
How would the US look if the kept falling behind the USSR in space exploration?
Not very good as it would hint they dont have the tech, education or money
What are the 4 biggest space budgets?
USA-$17.6billion
EU-$5.5billion
Russia-$5.6billion
China-$1.3billion
What problem are space programmes in western nations facing?
Budget cuts whilst Asian nations are begining to lauch cheaper missions
How many succeful launches of rockets were there in 2016? (for different countries)
US-21
China-19
Russia-18
EU-8
India-7
Japan-3
Isreal-1
N.Korea-1
How many unsuccessful launches were there in 2016?
US-1
China-1
Russia-1
