EQ1- What Are Superpowers and How Have They Changed Over Time Flashcards
Define a superpower
Is a nation with the ability to project its influence anywhere in the world and be a dominant global force
State the characteristics of a superpower (7)
Size Demographic Resources Military power Political power Economic power Cultural power
Explain Size as a characteristic of a superpower
Exemplification
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
Explain Demographic as a characteristic of a superpower
Exemplification
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
Explain Resources as a characteristic of a superpower
Exemplification
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
Explain Military power as a characteristic of a superpower
Exemplification
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.
Explain Economic Power as a characteristic of superpowers
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
Explain Political power as a characteristic of a superpower
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
Explain Cultural Power as a characteristic of a superpower
Exemplification
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.
Define hard power
Is an aggressive use of military and economic power in order to influence the behaviour or interests of other countries
Define Soft power
Involves shaping the preferences of other countries through appeal and attraction
Explain the geo-strategic location theory
Russia?
Trends?
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
Explain the extent of the British empire as an example of uni-polar aid
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
Explain the benefits for the British Empire from colonialism as a example of uni-polar power
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
Explain the Mercantilist and Imperial phase of the British Empire as a example of uni-polar power
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
Explain the Colonialism in India from the British Empire as a example of uni-polar power
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
Explain the importance of the military in the British empires rule as a example of uni-polar power
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
Explain why the colonial era ended as an example of uni-polar power
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
Explain the multipolar transition period
Who was involved
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
Explain the Bipolar power period
Existed between 1945 and 1990 where the USA and USSR has the most global power, which was maintained militarily, politically, economically and culturally
Explain the Cold War conflict as part of the Bi-polar power period
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)
Explain the opposing ideologies in the Cold war in explaining bipolar power
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
Explain why the USSR lost the Cold War in explaining the Bi-polar power period (4)
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
Explain which type of geopolitical power type is the most stable for world peace
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
