Power and developments - paper 3 Flashcards
What factors influence state power?
- resources
- alliances
- structures networks
What are the two main types of hard power?
Military Power: Aggressive actions, such as conflict (e.g., China’s military spending).
Economic Power: Sanctions or incentives (e.g., sanctions on Russia in 2022).
What is hard power?
- the ability to coerce or induce actions using threats or rewards
- Includes military and economic power.
What is soft power?
The ability to influence through persuasion
What defines a great power?
States with significant population, resources, military strength, and economic development (e.g., British Empire in 1922).
What is smart power?
A combination of hard and soft power (e.g., Obama’s foreign policy with Iran: sanctions + diplomacy).
How does the Eurovision Song Contest demonstrate soft power?
Countries showcase culture, political values, and diplomacy to a global audience (e.g., Ukraine’s entry highlighting the war with Russia).
What defines a superpower?
A state with immense global influence, often with nuclear capabilities
What is unipolarity?
One dominant power (e.g., USA post-Cold War). The global hegemon is seen as weakening.
What is bipolarity?
Two dominant powers (e.g., USA and USSR during the Cold War).
What is multipolarity?
Multiple dominant powers, such as USA, EU, BRICS, MINT, etc. Global power is more distributed.
How has the USA influenced unipolarity?
The USA has been a hegemonic power post-Cold War but its global dominance is now debated.
What factors contribute to a multipolar world?
- Globalization
- rising emerging powers (BRICS, MINT)
- global governance
What defines an autocratic state?
Governed by a single ruler or body with no checks on power (e.g., Syria under Bashar al-Assad).
What criteria define a failed state?
- Loss of territory, legitimacy, basic services, and interaction with other states (e.g., Somalia).
What is a rogue state?
A state that disregards international norms and is isolated (e.g., North Korea).
How has democracy spread?
Spread after the Cold War, driven by economic globalization.
How do realists and liberals view conflict in a multipolar world?
Realists: See it as a danger for stability.
Liberals: See it as an opportunity for cooperation.
How do realists and liberals view human rights?
Unipolarity: Allows for monitoring and action on human rights violations.
Democracy spread: Reduces violations.
How do realists and liberals view poverty?
Realists: Cautious of unipolarity, as it may lead to poor poverty reduction examples.
Liberals: Focus on global cooperation to address poverty.
How does multipolarity affect environmental cooperation?
Multipolarity and soft power enhance cooperation on environmental issues.
