Geography: Superpowers Flashcards
Define the following:
Regional power
Emerging power
Superpower
Regional power: A country or state that has power or influence in a part of a continent or world region.
Emerging power: A country that has rapidly increased its influence and economic position in the world.
Superpower: A very powerful country with worldwide influence due to a dominant economy, culture, political persuasion or military strength.
What’s the difference between hard and soft power?
Hard power is a coercive approach to gaining and maintaining power. Soft power is an approach that attracts and co-opts with the views of others.
What does Mackinder’s geo-strategic location theory state?
It states that the heartland is where the world superpowers are located. The pivot is in the centre of the heartland.
Define the following: Imperialism Colonialism Colonisation Colonies
Imperialism: a relationship of political, economic or cultural control between geographical areas.
Colonialism: political rule of a nation by another. (Also known as political imperialism).
Colonisation: the physical settling of people from a colonial power within their colony.
Colonies: territories under the immediate political control of a state.
Define neo-colonialism.
The indirect control of a country by economic, cultural and political means.
Define the following:
Unipolar world
Bipolar world
Multipolar world
Unipolar world: A world dominated by one hyperpower.
Bipolar world: A world divided into opposing blocs by two superpowers
Multipolar world: Numerous equally powerful states.
Which countries are in the BRICs?
Brazil, Russia, India, China
Which characteristics do superpowers usually have?
- strong economy
- large military force
- large geographical size
- member of many trade blocs.
- nuclear capability
How did Britain use hard power to maintain control over the Raj?
In 1858, they used the military to end a rebellion which lasted 13 months.
How did Britain use soft power to maintain control over the Raj?
British culture was introduced to the area through a process called acculturalisation.
How did new technology aid the British empire?
The steamship and telegraph allowed them to defend and control the empire. By 1902, the British empire was linked together by a series of telegraph cables.
why has Brazil became globally important?
- strong, diverse economy and a growing middle class.
- agricultural power, dominates fruit and juice markets.
- energy independent, can rely on its own energy.
why has Russia became globally important?
- largest country in the world with extensive oil and gas reserves.
- one of the world’s first nuclear states.
why has India become globally important?
-GDP has increased by 7.4% on average between 2006 and 2012.
why has China become globally important?
- ‘workshop of the world’
- liberal trade policies, in ASEAN which attracts investment.
- foreign investment aids growth.
what is multipolarity?
a world where there are multiple powers/influential countries. the world was multipolar prior to the second world war.
what is the world bank and how does it influence the global economy and give superpowers more influence?
- founded in Breton woods 1944, finances development and addresses the effects of natural disasters. also helps democracy to function.
- influences the global economy as it gives loans to developing countries to reduce poverty, had a bad reputation in the 70s and 80s for financing environmentally damaging projects and putting countries further in debt.
- gives superpowers more influence as over 40% of WB votes lie in the hands of the top 8% contributors.
what is the IMF and how does it influence the global economy and give superpowers more influence?
- aims to prevent poverty and promote capitalism, has 189 members.
- influences the global economy as it has a fund to help developing countries in debt.
- gives superpowers more influence as voting rights and in proportion to investment, more wealthy countries have more of a say. 8 countries control 47% of votes.
what is the WTO and how does it influence the global economy and give superpowers more influence?
- regulates global trade by creating trade agreements and barriers in some cases. aims to reduce poverty 1 country 1 vote system.
- influences the global economy as global trade increased since its formation.
- gives superpowers more influence as it frees up capital and labour movement for superpowers.
what is the world economic forum and how does it influence the global economy and give superpowers more influence?
- swiss non-profit organisation working to encourage public-private co-operation.
- influences the global economy as it discusses issues such as corruption and encourages governments to set up global links.
- gives superpowers more influence as TNCs can benefit from government policies such as low taxation.
what is the modernisation theory and what does it state?
it states the different stages a country goes through, starts with the traditional society (based on sustenance farming with limited technology) to takeoff (rapid growth of manufacturing etc.) to a high mass consumption society (prominent middle class, goods and services).
what is the dependency theory and what does it state?
explains the variation in growth between countries. as the more powerful country exploits the weaker colony, it becomes more dependent upon the stronger power. it’s from a western perspective. developed countries give aid, manufactured goods etc. to developing countries and get raw materials, political support etc. in return.
what is the world systems theory and what does it state?
- three ‘worlds’: core, semi-periphery and periphery.
- interconnections in the world are constantly growing.
- most power found in Europe and north America.
What is the impact of Apple on how we interact and communicate?
- until 2015, it was the largest company in the USA, worth $724 million.
- more than 1 billion iOS devices sold by 2015
How are TNCs dominant forces in the global economy?
- in the 18th/19th century, much of India was run by the British East India Company.
- in 2015, the top 200 TNCs made up for 25% of the world’s economic output by value.
How do TNCs contribute to globalisation through technology?
- all WTO members must register any product or process under patent law, exclusive ownership of the intellectual property.
- 7000 new patents registered in the USA in 2015.
- TNCs benefit greatly from patenting their products.
How to TNCs encourage globalisation through trade patterns?
- between 1960 and 2010, trade increased by 46% per decade.
- in 2013, it was estimated that TNCs accounted for 80% of global trade.
How do TNCs help superpowers to maintain their power?
-75% of the forbes top 200 companies are in just 10 countries, 579 of these companies in the USA.
How have superpowers been involved in crisis response in Syria?
USA
- spent over $697 million on humanitarian aid.
- air raids on sites thought to hold chemical weapons.
CHINA
- doesn’t take any action which may further militarise the crisis.
- tries to avoid conflict, in contrast to America’s approach
How have superpowers been involved in the Iraq conflict?
- the USA used its military strength to overthrow Saddam Hussein, who was believed to have had WMDs.
- sent 190,000 troops there, Hussein was killed
What have superpowers done in order to tackle climate change?
USA
- $1b a year for climate mitigation.
- Paris agreement.
CHINA
- pledged to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 40-45% from 2005 to 2020.
- pledged that non-fossil fuels would account for 20% of its energy production by 2035.
What is the role of the UN in tackling climate change?
- every year since 1995, the UN held climate change conferences.
- during these conferences, parties try to resolve problems posed by climate change and aim to reduce emissions.
How does the UN court of justice encourage stability?
countries can resolve disputes without resorting to open conflict.
What are the impacts of superpower resource consumption?
landscape scarring: opencast mining removes vegetation and scars the natural landscapes. the process can cause noise and air pollution, waste can also contaminate waterways.
built environment: in 2003, 250 Chinese cities were affected by acid rain caused by pollutants. this accelerated the weathering of limestone and cement on buildings.
oil spills: 2010 BP oil spill gulf of mexico. killed marine life.
removal of rainforests (for food): forest in Brazil has been cleared and converted to cropland and pasture. brazil exports a lot of meat and juice etc. and so a lot of space is required for farms and crops.
What is the middle class?
a social group between upper and working classes, including professional and business people.
How have physical resources in the arctic led to tensions?
- contains 30% of the world’s undiscovered natural gas and 50% of oil.
- caused an international race for resources.
- military presence there due to disputed resources.
how have the actions of countries caused tensions within the arctic to arise?
- Canada started military exercises there in 2002 and conducts them annually.
- A Russian submarine planted the Russian flag on the seabed near the arctic, it was removed by Canada.
what are some problems caused by counterfeiting?
- strains trade relations.
- reduces TNC investment
What is a patent?
legal recognition that a product belongs intellectually to its developer.
Why does the Middle East pose a problem to superpowers?
POLITICAL TENSIONS:
- Israel is contentious for many Arab states who want to see a separate state of Palestine alongside Israel.
- Afghanistan has been unstable since the soviet invasion of 1979, and has been viewed suspiciously by the USA for hiding terrorists.
ECONOMIC TENSIONS:
-key supplier of oil, the role of ISIS in Iraq since the invasion of allied forces focused western interests on defending the country’s oil reserves.
CULTURAL TENSIONS:
-countries of the middle east have historic tribal/religious divisions.
ENVIRONMENTAL TENSIONS:
-past conflicts have caused damage to oil installations.
What is gross domestic product?
the total value of goods and services a country produces in one year.
