EQ1- What Are Superpowers and How Have They Changed Over Time

Question 1

Define a superpower

Answer 1

Is a nation with the ability to project its influence anywhere in the world and be a dominant global force

Question 2

State the characteristics of a superpower (7)

Answer 2

Size 
Demographic 
Resources 
Military power
Political power
Economic power 
Cultural power

Question 3

Explain Size as a characteristic of a superpower

Exemplification

Answer 3

Countries with a large land area are important as they tend to have greater natural resources and can extend influence over a large number of neighbours

Russia has a very large land area with high volumes of natural resources and 14 neighbours who it is able to extend its influence on to

Question 4

Explain Demographic as a characteristic of a superpower

Exemplification

Answer 4

Countries with a large population are seen as important as economic growth cannot be sustained without sufficient numbers of workers.

However countries like Qatar have a significant influence without a large population

Question 5

Explain Resources as a characteristic of a superpower

Exemplification

Answer 5

Countries with resources necessary for economic development hold significant power, depending on the value of resources and the control they have over them.

Russia has large reserves of gas

Question 6

Explain Military power as a characteristic of a superpower

Exemplification

Answer 6

Countries with a large military may be viewed to be more powerful. The threat of military force can be used to exert pressure, achieve geopolitical goals and project power around the world.

E.g. USA has substantial nuclear weapons and aircraft carriers.

Question 7

Explain Economic Power as a characteristic of superpowers

Answer 7

Countries with the largest economy have a significant influence over global economies. They control investment, use the most powerful currencies and determine economic policies which have an effect around the world

Question 8

Explain Political power as a characteristic of a superpower

Answer 8

Superpowers have disproportionate weight in international bodies with the ability to make key decisions, influence the decisions of others and have the power to veto

Question 9

Explain Cultural Power as a characteristic of a superpower

Exemplification

Answer 9

Some countries have the ability to spread its ideas and beliefs across the world, aided by globalisation.

USA spreads its western values of free speech, liberty and capitalism across the world.

Question 10

Define hard power

Answer 10

Is an aggressive use of military and economic power in order to influence the behaviour or interests of other countries

Question 11

Define Soft power

Answer 11

Involves shaping the preferences of other countries through appeal and attraction

Question 12

Explain the geo-strategic location theory

Russia?

Trends?

Answer 12

Was developed by Mackinder in 1904 to explain how the geographical balance of power has changed.

He identified a heartland from Eastern Europe to Russia which was the centre of power. Whoever ruled the heartland controlled the world, with countries further away having less influence

He believed industrialisation in the UK and later the USA shifted the centre of power westwards. Between 2000 and the predicted 2005 there has been a major shift of power East, due to the emergence of China and other Asian countries

Question 13

Explain the extent of the British empire as an example of uni-polar aid

Answer 13

Maintained a global empire that ruled over 20% of the world’s population and 25% of its land area

Countries such as Canada, Australia and India were all part of the British Empire

Question 14

Explain the benefits for the British Empire from colonialism as a example of uni-polar power

Answer 14

Established trading companies were financed to voyage for valuable commodities, such as spices from India, to be brought back to cities like Liverpool and Bristol during the industrial revolution

Steamships and trains were developed to help maintain direct control and facilitate the growth of complex trade networks and links

Question 15

Explain the Mercantilist and Imperial phase of the British Empire as a example of uni-polar power

Answer 15

The Mercantilist phase occurred where small colonies were conquered. E.g. Jamaica and Anguilla

The Imperial Phase occurred where vast territories were conquered. E.g. India and Australia

Question 16

Explain the Colonialism in India from the British Empire as a example of uni-polar power

Answer 16

British military personnel and civil servants emigrated to India

Educated Indians (spoke english and wore european clothes) occupied low administrative positions

Symbols of imperial power , such as the Howrah bridge in Kolkata, demonstrated Britains wealth and technical ability

Acculturation, the transfer of a dominant cultures ideas to a subordinate culture, took place with cricket, tea and the english language introduced.

A strict social order was maintained separating the ruling white British with the Indians

Question 17

Explain the importance of the military in the British empires rule as a example of uni-polar power

Answer 17

The royal navy dominated the world’s oceans, protecting the colonies and trade routes

In 1914 Britain’s navy was 2x as large as the next largest, Germany

Question 18

Explain why the colonial era ended as an example of uni-polar power

Answer 18

Ended mostly after WW2 in 1945

Postwar bankruptcy left countries with no money to defend or run colonies

Focus on postwar reconstruction at home meant colonies were viewed as less important

Anticolonial movements grew strong for independence

Question 19

Explain the multipolar transition period

Who was involved

Answer 19

Existed from 1918 to 1945 where multiple countries had significant global power, in a messy global situation where emerging powers threatened the traditional sphere of influence (where a powerful country can assert its dominance)

Germany- became powerful during the 1930’s as Hitler prepared the country for war
Japan- imperial Japan was a increasing power in Asia
USA - became economically and politically stronger
Europe- still strong but weakened by poor economic performance and the cost of maintaining an empire

Question 20

Explain the Bipolar power period

Answer 20

Existed between 1945 and 1990 where the USA and USSR has the most global power, which was maintained militarily, politically, economically and culturally

Question 21

Explain the Cold War conflict as part of the Bi-polar power period

Answer 21

The cold war was a 45 year stand off between the US, a country that had industrialised rapidly, and the USSR, a country created by the Russian revolution followed by rapid industrialisation.

USA became a increasingly global superpower with military basis aimed at containing the USSR and preventing the spread of communism

USSR built a core of countries it either allied with (Eastern Europe) or invaded (Afghanistan)

Question 22

Explain the opposing ideologies in the Cold war in explaining bipolar power

Answer 22

USA - Social objective is freedom, Free market economy, Democracy with elected leaders, Businesses are privately owned

USSR - Social objective is equality, Government planned economy, Dictatorship with no free elections, Businesses are owned by the state

Question 23

Explain why the USSR lost the Cold War in explaining the Bi-polar power period (4)

Answer 23

Size of the economy- USSR economy was half of the US

Supporting allies - military advice and aid drained the USSR’s budget

Defence - The USSR could not match US defence spending

Afghanistan- The US secretly supported and trained the Mujahideen, rebels who rallied against the Soviet occupation in Afghanistan

Question 24

Explain which type of geopolitical power type is the most stable for world peace

Answer 24

Unipolar- a world dominated by one power is unlikely to maintain control everywhere all the time. This could lead to frequent challenges by rogue countries not willing to accept the superpower

Bipolar - would be more stable as its divided into two opposing blocs. Stability depends on the channels of communication between the two superpowers and the ability to control its blocs. A breakdown could lead to disastrous conflict.

Multipolar - complex system as there are numerous relationships. There could be fears of alliances creating more powerful blocs, creating conflict

Question 25

Explain the Economic global importance of emerging countries

Answer 25

China and India are on track to be two of the three countries with the largest GDP

All BRICS countries are projected to grow their GDP between 2-6%+ whilst the EU is likely to see a decline in GDP growth

India and China have the worlds largest populations, with large labour forces

China is the worlds largest exporter with goods from China being the largest imports from USA, India, Russia and Australia

BRIC countries represent 4 of the top 6 projected GDP in 2050

Question 26

Explain the Political global importance of emerging countries

Answer 26

Emerging countries, like China, are a important representation of the Eastern world with a higher favourability for China over the US in countries like Egypt, Pakistan, Indonesia and the Philippines

BRIC nations represent 41% of the world population, meaning it has an important voice politically

The BRICS development bank was formed in order to create influence around the world and compete with the IMF to finance infrastructure and development projects

The Contingent Reserve Arrangement (CRA) is a $100 billion self financed pot for BRICS countries to forestall short term liquidity issues, provide mutual support and financial stability.

All the BRICS nations and some of the MINT nations are part of the G20

China has a permanent seat on the UN council, with substantial global power

Question 27

Explain the Environmental global importance of emerging countries

Answer 27

All BRICS and MINT nations have signed the Paris Climate Agreement with a commitment to cut greenhouse gas emissions.

The BRICS countries are some of the worlds largest polluters of CO2 emissions, have a substantial importance environmentally.

Question 28

Explain the strengths of Russia as a emerging country and its ability to be a superpower

Answer 28

Still maintains political influence over its former USSR neighbours

Has a large cultural tourist industry

Has nuclear power with very large military capacity

Permanent seat on the UN security council

Question 29

Explain the weaknesses of Russia as a emerging country and its ability to be a superpower

Answer 29

Its manufacturing has halved after 1991, with an unbalanced economy

Is an unequal country with 35% of its wealth shared amongst 110 people

There has been a reduction in Russia’s global influence since 1991

Russian is spoken little beyond the borders of the former USSR

Has a low fertility rate

Question 30

Explain the threats of Russia as a emerging country and its ability to be a superpower

Answer 30

Economy is over dependent on oil and gas reserves

Has difficult relationships with the USA and UK

Isolated from world affairs, kicked out of the G8

Question 31

Explain the opportunities of Russia as a emerging country and its ability to be a superpower

Answer 31

Still has huge oil and has reserves as a source of wealth

Borders 14 countries with an influence on them

Question 32

Explain Rostow’s takeoff model (Modernisation theory) as a development theory to explain the changing patterns of power

Answer 32

In the 1960’s the economist Rostow presented a model for economic development, where he proposed all developing countries must pass through the 5 successive stages of growth

Question 33

Explain the stages of Rostow’s takeoff model as a development theory to explain changing patterns of power (5)

Answer 33

Traditional society - high levels of agriculture and labour intensive agriculture

Pre conditions - development of mining industry, increased capital use of agriculture and growth in savings and investment

Takeoff- increasing industrialisation, decline in agriculture

Drive to maturity - growth becomes self sustaining, industry is more diversified and levels of technology utilised increases

High mass consumption- high output level, mass consumption and high employment in the service sector

Question 34

Explain the criticisms of Rostow’s model as a development theory to explain changing patterns of power (3)

Answer 34

Only describes the economic changes associated with development

Assumes western forms of capitalism to be ideal

Theory does not count for exceptions - corrupt governance and international competition

Question 35

Explain Frank’s dependency model as a development theory to explain changing patterns of power

Answer 35

In 1971 the theory was developed that periphery countries provided a range of services to core countries. The developed country controlled the development of developing countries, by setting prices for commodities, interfering in economies and military aid.

Question 36

Explain the criticisms of Franks dependency model as a development theory to explain changing patterns of power

Answer 36

Colonialism has led to some developing countries lacking infrastructure and struggling to develop

Some countries have not followed the model- Singapore was colonised and is now very developed

Countries focused on this model are still very poor

Leads to some countries being fixed with little development

Question 37

Explain Wallerstein’s world systems theory as a development theory to explain changing patterns of power

Answer 37

In 1974 the theory was developed with the belief that ex colonies are not doomed to be trapped in a state of dependency, its possible for them to climb up the economic ladder. However he also believed that the global capitalism system requires some countries to be poor so they can be exploited by the wealthy at the top

Question 38

Explain the model Wallerstein’s world systems theory as a development theory to explain changing patterns of power

Answer 38

The world should be looked at as a whole

The world is split into three groups: core, semi-periphery and periphery

Countries can be upwardly or downwardly mobile in the system

The world is dynamic and core regions find new ways of extracting profit from poor countries