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Question 1

What is a super power ?

Answer 1

is a nation with the ability to project its influence anywhere in the world and be a dominant global force. It dates from the 1940s when it was used to describe the three dominant world powers: USA, USSR, British Empire

Question 2

What is criteria for defining a superpower?

Answer 2

physical size, demographic, resources, cultural, political, military strength, economic strength

Question 3

Why is having a larger land area important?

Answer 3

Tend to have greater natural resources and extend influence over a larger number of neighbours

Question 4

Why is having a high population important?

Answer 4

Demographic weight - countries with a large population are seen as important because economic growth cannot be sustained without sufficient number of cheap workers and
Larger population encourage economic growth through markets.

Question 5

Why is having large resources important?

Answer 5

Countries with resources necessary for economic development should hold significant power.

However some resources significant resources are not necessarily because exporting raw materials adds little value eg Australia- iron ore

Question 6

Why is having a strong military important?

Answer 6

The threat of military force can be used to exert pressure it can be used to achieve geopolitical goals

Question 7

Why is having political power important?

Answer 7

Only 5 countries have a permanent seat on the UN Security Council.
This is important as they can influence the decisions of others

Question 8

Explain the four pillars of superpower status ?

Answer 8

The four pillars of superpower status includes the economic power at the bottom of pillars as this is the basis of all improvements to a country and society.

The four pillars of military, political,cultural and resources then raise the economic status to the level of being a superpower. All superpowers will have the basis of the four pillars diagram.

Question 9

What is economic power in the four pillars super power status?

Answer 9

Economic power: at the base of the temple a large and powerful economy gives nations wealth to maintain power of the following

Question 10

Explain what military power is in the four pillars of superpower status?

Answer 10

One of the pillars to super status
Military power : the treat of military action is a powerful bargaining chip and military force can be used to achieve goals. This includes nuclear power, blue water navy, middle and satellite

Question 11

Explain what political power is in the four pillars of superpower status?

Answer 11

One of the pillars to superpower status

the ability to influence others through diplomacy and is exercised through international organisations such as un and world trade

Question 12

Explain what cultural power is in the four pillars of superpower status?

Answer 12

One of the pillars to superpower status

Includes Joe appealing a nations way of life is. How attractive its values and ideology are to others. Done normally through food ,art,films

Question 13

Explain what resources is in the four pillars of superpower status?

Answer 13

One of the pillars to superpower status

Can be in the form of physical resources (fossil fuels,minerals, land ) and Human Resources (number of people,skills and education)

Question 14

What is hard power ?

Answer 14

military action or the threat of it

Hard power incorporates military and economic powers. Example : USA confronts other nations with force dominates the world’s economy. This could also be due to colonialism

This is due to two factors:

Military power, Economic power

Question 15

What is soft power ?

Answer 15

Soft powers co-opts the views and agreements of other countries- they exert influence without force: the UK is not one of the biggest superpowers but exerts worldwide influence.

This is due to these 3 factors :

History, culture, diplomacy

Question 16

What did Mackinder believe about the heartland ?

Answer 16

Mackinder believed strategic understanding of physical geography crucial in controlling strategic areas of land.

In 1904,Mackinder identified a region of Eurasia as the ‘heartland’

This area held a significant power because:

Protected from invasion at sea, stretched from Russia to china and Himalayas to the artic

It contained a huge portion of the worlds physical and human resources

No longer applies as this was focusing on naval warfare. Airforce powers are stronger now

Question 17

What is geo strategic policy ?

Answer 17

policies that attempts to meet global and regional aims of a country by combining diplomacy with the movement and positioning of military assets.

Question 18

What did Mackinder believe about this region ?

Answer 18

He identified a heartland called the ‘world island’ from Eastern Europe into Russia at the centre of which was a ‘pivot’.

He believed that3 things determined power in this region:

Whoever rules the most strategic part of Europe would command the heartland

Whoever rules the heartland would command the world island

Whoever controlled the world island ruled the world.

Question 19

What are the pro and cons of this region ?

Answer 19

The cons for Russia is it has many borders and many of its borders are on the coast so is often frozen so little ports

The pros are is the resources and location give it lots of power

Question 20

What is the global economic centre of gravity?

Answer 20

the average location of the planet’s economic activity measured by GDP

Question 21

Describe the extent of the British empire ?

Answer 21

In 1920 the Uk ruled over 20% of the world’s population and 25% of its land. The navy dominated the woods oceans Britain’s army was about twice as large as the next largest

Question 22

What is the benefits of the British empire ?

Answer 22

Has power over many people and countries meaning it has large natural resources more trade and more development economically will also mean better a military power

Question 23

What was the mercantilist phase during the British empire ?

Answer 23

Where small colonies are conquered on coastal fringes and islands. The raw material are protected by navy

Question 24

What was the imperial phase in the British empire ?

Answer 24

Where vast territories are conquered. Coastal colonies extend inland. Religion,sport and language are introduced to colonies, complex trade develops, technology such as railways to connect distant parts of the empire

Question 25

Why could this be described as being a direct rule ?

Answer 25

It could be described as a direct rule as the British language and culture would be used in these colonies

Question 26

How did colonialism work in India ?

Answer 26

British military personnel and entrepreneurs emigrated to India to run the raj. Educated India’s population and a process of acculturation was undertaken like cricket and afternoon tea and the English language. A strict social order was maintained that differentiated the ruling white British from the India’s

Question 27

What was the importance of the navy for the British empire ?

Answer 27

Because the British military was so dominant it meant it could control the oceans so had protection on trade routes and could take over vast territories

Question 28

Why did the colonial era come to an end ?

Answer 28

After world war 2 most colonial powers had lost their colonies because post war bankruptcy meant no money to run and defend colonies, post war reconstruction was viewed as more important than colonies and anti colonial movements grew stronger and demands for independence couldn’t be ignored

Question 29

What is unipolar power ?

Answer 29

Where one state has majority of power and faces no competitors (British empire)

Question 30

What is a bipolar world ?

Answer 30

Where two states have majority of power. Divided into two opposing blocs if communication breaks down it will likely end in conflict

Question 31

What is a multi polar system?

Answer 31

Numerous relationships between more or less equally powerful states. Fears of alliances to make powerful blocs is high which could increase conflict.

Question 32

Which countries rise created the multi polar world after the British empire ?

Answer 32

British was not alone in having colonies during the imperial era. USA,Germany,France and other European countries. This period was increasingly multi-polar.

Germany became more powerful during the 1930s as hitler rearmed the country and prepared it for war

Imperial Japan began to be an increasing power in Asia

The USA became economically and militarily stronger,challenging Britain’s traditional global leadership.

Question 33

How did the USA and USSR maintain power politically?

Answer 33

Eastern European countries were not directly ruled by Moscow, but the USSR influenced military and
economic planning. Elections were held but all candidates were communist party members approved by
Moscow.

If Eastern European Countries deviated from Moscow policies, they were dealt with harshly, e.g. military
invasion in Hungary in 1956.

Question 34

How did the USSR maintain power militarily?

Answer 34

Post 1945 Russian Tanks swept through Eastern Europe towards the heart of Germany, to ensure a strong
bargaining position in post war peace negotiations

The USSR created a buffer of friendly countries in Eastern and Central Europe, to shield it from the West.
This border became known as the Iron Curtain.

Both sides had nuclear weapons.

Both sides formed military alliances. The ussr had the Warsaw Pact and the USA had the North Atlantic agreement.

Question 35

How did the USA and USSR maintain power economically?

Answer 35

NATO and the USA adopted a strategy to build economic influence. It strengthened Western European
Countries by providing aid as part of the Marshall plan (post WW2)

US invested in Japan, Singapore and the Philippines to enable economic growth. This investment
supported the growth of the Asian Tigers.

Question 36

How did the USA maintain power politically?

Answer 36

In the USA accusations for anyone with suspected communist leanings, were reported on daily television

The Cold war was based on propaganda rather than military conflict

Hollywood produced films designed to generate suspicion of communists and portraying the USA as
moral and freedom fighters.

Question 37

What is Neo-colonialism?

Answer 37

The use of economic,political,cultural or other pressures to control or influence other countries especially former dependencies ( colonial masters)

Question 38

Explain some possible mechanisms of Neo colonial control ?

Answer 38

Aid - development aid comes with strings attached. Forcing the recipient to agree to policies
TNC investment - investment from abroad may create jobs and wealth but will be dependent on the receiving country following certain policies
Terms of trade - low commodity export prices contrasted with high prices for imported goods from developed countries

Question 39

What is the BRIC ?

Answer 39

Brazil,Russia,India and china were identified as a group of emerging powers in 2001.Four large and fast-growing economies that were likely to have an increasing global influence in the future.

Question 40

What is the G20?

Answer 40

formed in the 1999 and meet annually. It is made up of 19 countries plus the EU. It includes some potential emerging powers e.g. Mexico, Indonesia, South Korea, Saudi Arabia and Turkey. Accounts for 85% of global GDP, 85% of world trade and about 65% of the world’s population.

Question 41

What are the strengths for Brazil as a country?

Answer 41

Regional leader in South America, energy independent( oil and biofuel leader), growing middle class and maturing consumer economy, culturally influential ( World Cup Olympics)

Question 42

What are the weakness of Brazil ?

Answer 42

Small military
Needs to control destruction of its forests
Education levels lag behind over

Question 43

What are the opportunities for Brazil?

Answer 43

Brazil have huge natural resources, young population, high biodiversity

Question 44

What are the threats to Brazil ?

Answer 44

Fertility rate is falling, politically less stable in recent years ( accusations of corruptions), major environmental issues.

Question 45

What are the strengths of Russia ?

Answer 45

Large economy, large military, nuclear power, political leverage due to gas and oil exports, permanent seat on un council, owns the heartland so has global influence

Question 46

What are the weaknesses of Russia ?

Answer 46

Unbalanced economy (manufacturing halved), population was declining seen a small increase recently, many of Russia’s naval and aircraft is aging

Question 47

What are russias opportunities as a country?

Answer 47

Huge oil and gas reserves (can control price), borders 14 countries ( more influence).

Question 48

What are Russia’s threats ?

Answer 48

Dependent on oil and gas exports, becoming isolated from world affairs (g8 kicked out), tense geopolitical relationships with global communities

Question 49

What are the strengths of India ?

Answer 49

Youthful population (large economic potential), English is widely spoken, nuclear armed, many universities have global reputation, worlds largest democracy, rising economic growth

Question 50

What are India’s weakness ?

Answer 50

Possible future resource shortage (water and energy), poor transport and energy infrastructure, poor political relations with neighbouring countries, one of the worlds worst environmental problems, value of rupee is decreasing due to large debts

Question 51

What are the opportunities for India ?

Answer 51

Founding member of un and g20, young population so large working population

Question 52

What are India’s threats ?

Answer 52

Decreasing value of rupee
Young population will eventually become highly dependent elderly

Question 53

what are the strengths of china

Answer 53

highly educated technically innovative population, one of the worlds largest economies, increasing military power, ,modern infrastructure

Question 54

what are the weakness of china

Answer 54

will soon have problems with ageing population, major pollution issues, relies on imported materials, rising wages making its economy increasingly high cost for tncs

Question 55

what are the opportunities of china

Answer 55

has an abandonment supply of natural resources, large land area, good working demographic

Question 57

Explain rostows take off model ?

Answer 57

Traditional society - characterised by high levels of agricultural and labour intensive agriculture

Pre-conditions - development of mining industries, increase in capital use in agriculture

Take off - increasing industrialisation, number employed in agriculture declines

Drive to maturity- growth becomes self-sustaining-wealth generation enables further investment in value, industry more diversified,increase in levels of technology

High mass consumption- high output levels, mass consumption of consumer durables,high proportion of employment in service sector

Question 58

What are the criticisms of rostows take off model

Answer 58

Only describes economic change associated with development

Question 59

What is franks dependency model ?

Answer 59

He noted that ‘satellite’ (periphery) countries
provided a range of services to metropolitan
(core) countries. This includes raw materials , Brian drain, political support. For exchange of aid, manufactured goods, political and economic ideas

The developed country controlled the
development of developing countries by
setting prices for commodities , interfering in
economics and using military aid.

Colonialism had caused poverty/Neo-
colonialism may still be doing this

Question 60

What are the criticism of franks dependency model ?

Answer 60

Some have argued that colonialism did have positive benefits because it provided LDCs with a basic infrastructure in terms of transport and communications. Newer colonised LDCs such as Ethiopia and Afghanistan experience severe problems today because they lack the infrastructure provided by the colonial powers.

• Some countries have not followed this model and are still underdeveloped e.g. Ethiopia was never colonised. Likewise Singapore WAS and is very developed

Question 61

What is Immanuel wallerstiens world systems theory ?

Answer 61

He said that ex colonies are not doomed to be forever trapped in a state of dependency; it is possible for them to climb the economic ladder of development, as many of them have done.

• However, he also believes that the global capitalism system still requires some countries, or at least regions within countries to be poor so they can be exploited by the wealthy at the top.

Wallerstein’s theory has four underlying principles:

1. The world should be looked as at a whole (not individual countries)
2. The world can be split into three groups: Core, Semi-periphery and Periphery.
3. Countries can be upwardly or downwardly mobile in the system (differs from dependency theory
   in this way)
4. The world is dynamic and core regions constantly find new ways of extracting profit from poor
   countries. E.g. through Unfair Trade Rules or Western TNCs

Question 62

What is the core I’m Immanuel walleesteinds worlds system to theory ?

Answer 62

The core - or developed countries control world wages and monopolise the production of manufactured goods.

Question 63

What is the semi-peripheral zone I’m Immanuel walleesteinds worlds system to theory ?

Answer 63

includes countries like South Africa or Brazil which resemble the core in terms of their urban centers but also have areas of rural poverty which resemble the peripheral countries. The core contracts work out to these countries

Question 64

What is the peripheral zone I’m Immanuel walleesteinds worlds system to theory ?

Answer 64

at the bottom, mainly in Africa, which provide the raw materials such as cash crops to the core and semi periphery. These are also the new markets in which the core attempts to market their manufactured goods.