power and polarity

Question 1

define soft power

Answer 1

the cultural and diplomatic power to increase a nation states sphere of influence

Question 2

define hard power

Answer 2

the economic and military power to create compulsion on the national stage
coheresion

Question 3

example of USA’s soft and hard power

Answer 3

soft = americanisation
hard = they make up 40% of global military budget

Question 4

example of chinas soft and hard power

Answer 4

soft = belt and road initiative - investment in Africa
hard = economy and GDP growth - ‘workshop of the world status’

Question 5

to what extent can it be argued that the internet has made soft power more important in global relations

Answer 5

to a wide extent as the world is becoming more digital and consequently their has been spreads of culture easily

Question 6

define superpower

Answer 6

a nation state that is able to exert its influence and military presence at anytime anywhere in the world

Question 7

define great power

Answer 7

nation states that possess significant economic, military and diplomatic power with wide regional outreach and power

Question 8

explain why the usa is a superpower

Answer 8

as it can deploy military anytime anywhere in the world and has global influence through Bretton woods institutions

Question 9

define emerging power

Answer 9

a power that has a significant level of regional influence whilst in other areas it may still be developing but has not yet met the criteria for great power status

Question 10

explain why uk and russia are greater rather than superpowers

Answer 10

as they have significant regional influence, military and economic outreach. however unlike the usa they don’t have a great mobility of power and cannot operate anywhere anytime consistently

Question 11

why are India and Brazil often defined as emerging powers

Answer 11

as they are part of brics and have started to gain regional influence however other areas such as diplomatic influence and economies/military are still developing

Question 12

arguments for and against china becoming a superpower

Answer 12

• for: strengthening economic and military ties with geostrategically important states - Malaysia, role in south china sea
• structural power increasing in ndb, cra, brics
• against: its military is 5x smaller than the USA
• americansation greater cultural influence

Question 13

to what extent has russia’s lack of soft power influence reduced its global influence

Answer 13

to a wide extent as it has isolated and antagonised itself through its strong military and limited IGO membership - left G7 in 2014 after annexation of Crimea

Question 14

define bipolarity

Answer 14

the distribution of power where there are two dominant powers in the ISS

Question 15

explain the Cold War as an example of bipolarity

Answer 15

as both US and USSR had equal power and influence through proxies in the Korean and Vietnam war thus contesting their influence

Question 16

what is the connection between unipolarity and global hegemony

Answer 16

unipolarity allows one dominant power which can then develop into becoming a global hegemony

Question 17

define multipolarity

Answer 17

where multiple states hold significant and similar levels of power

Question 18

how can multipolarity encourage peace and stability

Answer 18

through greater focus on mulitlateralism and diplomacy to address global issues. greater interconnectedness and technology = greater collective focus on global issues encouraging peace and stability through globalisation

Question 19

how can the bipolar distribution of power contribute to peace and stability

Answer 19

as hard power accumulation on both sides could lead to a security dilemma and one nation not wanting to provoke the other due to WMD and nuclear weapons

Question 20

what is hegemonic stability theory and why is it contested

Answer 20

that the ISS is more likely to remain stable when a single state is the dominant power. it is contested as global order can be established collectively and does not need hegemony to guarantee peace

Question 21

how does a democratic state differ from an autocratic state

Answer 21

• autocratic solely relies on the leader and government whereas democratic state’s power is shared with its citizens

Question 22

define a failed state - how can they threaten peace and stability

Answer 22

• a state where there are no political institutions that claim sovereignty within the geographical territory
• can be a haven for terrorist organisations

Question 23

define a rogue state

Answer 23

• a state that undermines the status quo, international law and established norms

Question 24

why is russia a semi democratic state and why does this matter in international relations

Answer 24

• as it has some democratic elements - elections - but had limits on political freedoms
• this is important as it can impact state interaction such as trade agreements

Question 25

how are democratic governments less likely to provoke war than semi-autocratic and autocratic governments

Answer 25

as they have greater checks and balances and focus on public opinion and peaceful means to resolve conflict

Question 26

Name two rogue states and justify

Answer 26

North Korea and Iran as they both have been developing wmd - neither comply with npt , nk never signed, Iran has but doesn’t comply

and both have been argued to support terrosim

Question 27

name two failed states and how can they threaten stability

Answer 27

South Sudan - regional instability, civil war, refugee displacements

somalia - piracy off the coast = posed threat to maritime security

Question 28

what two ways is china now challenging the USA’s global influence

Answer 28

economically - expected to overtake us GDP and FDI
military - dominance in the south china sea - key trading route and resource rich

Question 29

in what ways can the EU be viewed as emerging power

Answer 29

economic strength, political influence and collective decision making

Question 30

define power transition and how can this be destabilising

Answer 30

when there is a transition between the balance of power, this can create uncertainty, competition and potential conflicts as new powers emerge

Question 31

why have tensions increased between india and china recently

Answer 31

• economic growth rivalries
• territorial disputes - Himalayas
• strategic competitors
• militaries

Question 32

why might the chaining balance of power impact negatively on human rights protection

Answer 32

as it can allow autocratic and semi democratic states more power globally this may result in less public opinion and greater government control = less human rights protection

Question 33

in what three ways is the usa still acting as a global hegemony

Answer 33

economically - still largest economy, the main form of international currency, 8/10 top successful brands American
military - worlds largest military budget - 40%
culturally - soft power and americanisation - Hollywood fast-food etc..

Question 34

twe is us military hegemony challenged

Answer 34

limited as although china increasing role ultimately American military budget is still 5x chinas

Question 35

how can the rise of emerging powers be sen positively

Answer 35

it has encouraged global communications on global issues and greater interconnectedness through globalisation