EQ1 Flashcards
Superpowers, emerging and regional powers can be defined using contrasting characteristics
Economic - more TNCs, strongest currencies, influence over global trade, high FDI - strong connections and creates links politically and military with strongest economic nations e.g. G7
political
military - more military spending e.g. US spends more than any other nation, size of military, nuclear weapons - acts as a deterrent against global threat - shows power and authority
Cultural
Demographic - countries with large young pop have more economic power in comparison to Japan who has ageing population
Access to natural resources
What is hard power
When a country achieves its objectives by using force or coercion through threats
E.g. military strength, nuclear weapons, economic sanctions
What is soft power
The power of persuasion associated with intangible power - resources, culture etc
Creates favourable perception
E.g. high level unis, monarchy, premier league, strong currency like £
What is sharp power
Manipulative behaviour to spread ideas
E.g. attempts to intervene in other countries democratic elections/ manipulate ideas online social media
What is smart power
Idea that national use a blend of power maintenance mechanisms
Reasons why nations have high soft power
Countries with stable economies/ economic leverage e.g. Germany - luxury cars + part of EU
Countries with distinctive cultural influence e.g. Japan (anime), South Korea (K-pop)
Countries with high education, enterprise, government, digital
Polling should show people are satisfied living there
Mechanisms of power sit on a spectrum
Military presence - hard power
- e.g. large military size to act as deterrent
Economic power through aid and trade - middle
E.g. favouring trade powers, trade blocs, using aid to influence policy
Culture and ideology - soft
- e.g. media and influence
Strengths and weaknesses of soft power
Flexible and affordable - more accessible
More sustainable - longer lasting
But
Not very enforcable as reliant on perceptions
Takes long time to establish
Perception is volatile
Strengths and weaknesses of hard power
Works quickly - good in crisis
Works as effective deterrent
Effective for achieving objectives
But
Unsustainable - lead to conflict e.g. Middle East
Very expensive - not viable for all nations
Collateral damage - on infrastructure on services
Unipolar definition
A world dominated by one superpower
E.g. British empire
Bipolar definition
A world in which 2 superpowers with opposing ideologies fight for power
E.g. cold war
Multipolar definition
Many superpowers and emerging powers compete for power in different regions
E.g. global governance, like UN
How has power shifted over time
From uni power of British empire to bipolar of Cold War to now which is multi power, where many nations an are encouraged to make collaborative decisions e,g. UN and global governance
The British Empire history as a Unipolar power
Mercantile phase 1600-1850:
Uk started building up trade routes and colonies along coats, e.g. Ghana, Jamaica and New England (America)
Military and navy enforced power by watching over trade routes for raw materials (sugar, tobacco, tea, gold) and slaves
Used military to protect trading companies to enforce trade routes
Very hard power heavy
Imperial phase 1950 to 1945:
British colonies started to grow inland
More soft power techniques e.g. language, sports (introducing cricket to India), textiles etc
Set up governments of British nationals in colonies to enforce
Trade routes more complex
Rule was largely maintained through bribery of local elites
British settlers setting up farms and plantations
Introduced tech like railway and telegraph
Squashed uprisings through massacres - hard power e.g. Jallisnwala Bagh, India - between 400 and 1500 died
Mix of soft and hard power
Why did British Empire fall
Germany became more powerful in 1930s - hitler preparing for war
Japan and US military and economy growing - challenging UK rule
From unipolar to multipolar
Then WW2 meant UK didn’t have funds to spend on Empire - had to rebuilt the UK
Plus uprisings from colonies like India with growing strength and power
