Context Flashcards
Define Superpower
A nation with the means to project its power and influence anywhere in the world, and to be a dominant global force e.g. USA
Various forms of power
MILITARY POWER - nuclear weapon = influence political power/difficult to manage ($$$)
ECONOMIC POWER - wealth allows sp to export their power around world, buy resources, influence trade patterns + global economy
CULTURAL POWER - projection of particular ‘way of life’ and cultural values which influence way others behave and think
GEOGRAPHICAL POWER - sphere of influence, greater resources/have to provide large resources + feed
4 types of superpower societies
IMPERIALISM - relationship of political,eco or cultural control between geographical areas e.g. British Empire = culture eco and politics of Britain dominating colonies
COLONIALISM - political rule of nation by another
CAPITALIST SYSTEM - economic system investment in + ownership of the means of production,distribution; exchange of wealth made+maintained by private individuals/corporation e.g. USA
COMMUNIST SYSTEM - no private ownership of means of production, state own business e.g. USSR
USA geography of power and how it maintains it
Maintains global hegemony 7 ways:
- most powerful military on earth + geographically widespread
- at least 500,000+ in army and navy/ 330,000 in air
- US army military reach - aircraft carriers + submarines etc = operate across world/no power has same amount
- USA economically dominant + companies global
- Forbes Global 2000 list - 2,000 biggest TNC’s in world, USA had 776 (most)
- USA major in trading - US dollars, world’s reserve currency
- Much of world arguably has interest in maintaining stable/friendly relationship with US
Maintain power - cultural hegemony
way of maintaining power direct force
Gramsci - power maintained by consent = values of those in power accepted by people - education, religion + media reinforces these values
e.g. Hitler and jews
Are superpower status fixed?
Superpower status not fixed e.g. British Empire
Collapse of communism
Causes of collapse in USSR were due to reforms begun 1985 by Mikhail Gorbachev
glasnost - openness, more political freedom e.g. speech + press, est of rival political parties, showed atrocities of Stalin etc.
perestroika - restructuring, economic liberilsation e.g. private ownership of small businesses + free market
these reforms spread to republic = revolt against communist system
USSR collapse Dec 1991 when CP gave up monopoly on power
Emerging superpowers
BRICS - Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, EU + oil-rich nations in Middle East
20 years - expt to increase their global power/influence
Global Trends 2025: Transformed World report found = global multi-polar system, right in wealth + eco power from west to east to continue + USA remain most powerful country but less dominant
What characteristics do emerging superpowers share?
strong economic growth, large pop, access to key resources e.g. fossil fuels, market economies + regional power and influences
Modernisation theory
1960’s W.W. Rostow’s mod theory used to explain dominance of BE + USA
- first nations to exp industrial rev = gave adv as overs not industraislised
- Rostow believed eco of developed countries moved through 5 stages of eco development + all countries would follow same pathway
- Rostow believed in free trade, democracy + capitalism = socialist countries could not expect to develop
- theory influential, many developing countries attempt to create preconditions for take-off in key infrastructures and industries
- some succeeded e.g Asian tigers, others in debt
Dependency theory
Based A.G. Frank, views world having eco develope dcore and undeveloped periphery
- According to theory - capitalist core delib keep periphery in state of undeveloped by exploiting its cheap resources, taking skilled workers + selling its manufactured goods
- developing world helps developed world to become wealthier - ‘development of underdevelopment’
- developing world in position selling resources cheaply but buying manufactured goods costly
- undeveloped = most skilled workers move to develop world, draining chance of development
- aid to developing world seen as preventing periphery becoming to restless
World systems theory
Wallerstein’s theory attempts to overcome problem of two-tier core + periphery world
- view is of three-tier world = core (developed), semi-periphery (semi), periphery (un-developed)
- models allows change to take place (move into new tiers)
Problems caused by decolonialisation
- colonial borders many not reflect religious/ethnic boundaries = conflict over territory
- colonies had govt institutions, indigenous people were excluded from them = lack of experience running govt
- colonial powers left = insurgents took opportunity to push = violence
Neo-colonialism
Refers to form of indirect control over developing countries, most of which are former colonies.
linked to Africa
Mechanisms of neo-colonialism
- Strategic alliances - USA+USSR formed alliances with developing nations to spread global influences e.g. foreign aid
- Aid - can be given with ‘strings attached’ e.g. spend aid in way donors wish e.g. buying from them
- TNCs - FDI = big profits for TNC, low wages/few skills for developing world
- Terms of trade - low price for raw material + commodity export contrast high prices developing world pay for manufacturing goods
- Global finance and debt - developing nations pay sums to developed world each year for debt interest
- Structural adjustment policies (SAPs) - countries wishing to have debt relieved apply Western Eco policies advised by WBANK/IMF = lose eco sovereignty
IGO’s/Intergovernmental organisation
Leaders of world’s superpower’s + emerging powers
Make key decisions about world economy, conflicts or environmental issues
significant overlap in membership = gives countries greater ability to focus global policy + decision making in their own interests
most igos have veto policy = eu/usa tend to vote with each other
UN security council
5 per members = UK, USA, China, Russia + France
15 overall, 10 rotate
FUNCTION - maintenance of international peace/security = cant take direct action
IMPACT - can enforce sanctions + troops on matters
NATO
28 member states - USA, Western + Eastern Europe
FUNCTION - original purpose contain communism, now safeguard freedom;security of its members through military/political power, ARTICLE 5 = 1 member attacked all members must attack
IMPACT - end to certain wars/conflicts between countries
G8
UK, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, USA, Canada, EU + Russia (suspended)
FUNCTION - no set agenda, more recently terror+climate change, richest countries + nuclear power
IMPACT - countries policies
The Davos group
Business CEOs, academics, political leader, IGO representatives, media
FUNCTION - interested on making economy working
IMPACT - improved the economy?
World Bank + IMF
Rich counties e.g. USA (WB)
IMF = G20 70% of votes, USA 17%, EU 25.7% votes
FUNCTION - finance development, help poorer countries, IMF reflects US+EU interests, assist states experiencing major eco problems
IMPACT - influence economies
Nature and control of trade
- WTO led to series of trade agreements since 1950s which have removed taxes, tariffs, quotas + subsidies
- Result = huge growth in trade and wealth
- Some parts of world benefited like Asia (China/India)
- Africa share of world trade declined since 1970
Explanations for Africa’s decline in trade
- International trade in hands of TNCs, who invested in China+India not Africa
- In Asia, free trade zones attract investment = tax breaks, non-union areas + limited regulation
- Africa will remain this way until more developed in infrastructure, higher skill levels + greater political stability
Free trade/Trade blocs
Trade certainly freer, but some countries this an illusion
Trade normally between countries in trade blocs = tariff-free or lowered prices
For developing countries outside trade blocs, barriers which prevent access to markets
Many African countries still trapped in colonial trade pattern of exporting raw materials to developed world = prices extremely low = exploit
Superpower’s control on technology
Superpower economies control innovation +tech
New inventions e.g. drugs are patented = uses must pay royalty or licence free to use tech
75% these fees go to 3 powers - USA dominating it = powers control availability of innovation/tech
Superpower’s influence on global culture
Dominance of USA + EU led some people to identify a global culture
Difficult to define, characteristics = culture of consumerism, capitalism + importance of attaining wealth, ENG dominant lang etc.
Americanisation
Coca- Cola + McDonalds, symbols are global
USA seen as most powerful force in cultural globalisation = Americanisation
McDonalds had to adapt menu
Cultural traffic
Western lifestyles not adopted wholesale around the world
E.g. - UK, curry most popular takeaway not ‘American’ burger
Backlash to Americanisation
Anti-Americanisation rose aftermath of invasion of Iraq
Impact on resources from BRICs
New global powers have emerged e.g. BRICs
- accelerating rise in demand for energy+other resources
- impact on environment - from global warming to localised river pollution
- uneven distribution of benefits of eco growth, with growing inequality between urban rich and rural poor
Rising superpowers impact on energy
Rapid rise in oil prices 2007+2008 outcome of rising demand and stagnating supply
Oil being pumped out of ground faster than new reserves being discovered
Rising superpowers on environment
China + India ecological footprint similar those of EU and USA by 2040
May place huge pressure on water, energy and land resources
In reality - sort of future unachievable as current known oil,gas +water resources not support consumption levels, could be down with switch to renewable energy = radical restructuring way humans consume resources
Impact on the older core regions
Maybe uncomfortable power shifts
Oil becomes scarcer+expensive, tensions may build
Potential conflict between major consumers of oil to seek sure supply
Some powers e.g. Russia;Gulf States, have own oil+gas reserves = in future could be source of increased power
Preserving prosperity
Cheaper food, clothing + electronics benefited people in USA and EU
Outsourcing jobs out of USA major concern e.g. Apple + Microsoft
The future?
- Multi-polar world = USA remain most powerful but less dominant superpower
- Arms race - middle east + east asia if tensions not resolved
- resource nationalisation - rising tensions as oil/water short, dash for new resources
- decline of EU and Japan - rapidly ageing pop
- resource - rich powers challenge political and eco order
