super powers Flashcards
(37 cards)
what is a superpower
a country with the capacity to project power and influence anywhere in the world, sometimes in more than one region of the globe at a time
how does physical size and location determine superpower status (give an example)
It determines the area over which a country has potential influence,
Larger countries may have more resources,
eg- The future of the Arctic (resources) lies in the hands of Russia and Canada as they are the largest countries bordering the ocean
how can resources determine super power status (give an example)
Resources may be critical to economic development,
May increase influence as energy insecure countries become dependent on oil rich states
eg- countries in the middle east often threaten to with-hold oil supplies unless the price per barrel increases
how can population size determine superpower status (give an example)
Economic growth can only be maintained with a large workforce and market
eg- EU has access to 550 million people
how can military forces determine superpower status (give an example)
through political power
eg- UN membership is based on those countries which possessed nuclear weapons in the 70s
Give an example of how economic power can provide superpower status
The world’s 20 largest economies donate almost all aid to the world’s poor (so have influence over them)
who are the contenders for superpower status and why
BRICS- demographic, economic
EU- population, economic, military
Gulf states- resources
what is the difference between hard and soft power
soft- making people want the same things
hard- forcing people to do things
what is power transition
the movement of power rankings
what is power diffusion
spreading of power away from the nation state
explain the movements of superpower status in terms of the world as a whole
1) bipolar- USA and USSR prior to 1991
2) unipolar- USA was the only dominance
3) Multi-polar- the rise of the BRICs
Outline Franks Dependency Theory
Developing worlds in the North become dependent on exploitation from the South
Developed countries are dominant at controlling trade and taking resources so developed nations keep developing nations in a state of under development
evaluate franks Dependency theory
for: explains African poverty
against: underestimates the rise of the Asian tigers
outline Wallenstein’s world systems theory
Three way division of labour between the core (exploitation, TNCs), semi periphery (mass production) and periphery (primary industry, cheap labour)
evaluate Wallenstein’s world systems theory
for: more realistic world view with the rise of the NICs and BRICs being considered part of the semi periphery world
outline rostow’s modernisation theory
the idea that countries develop through 5 stages:
1) lowest level of development
2) preconditions for take-off
3) take off
4) drive to maturity
5) highest level of development
evaluate rostows modernisation theory
for: MEDCs and NICs go through these stages, shows the success of capitalism through industrialisation
against: there are variations within countries, for example in the UK there are disparities in the levels of development between North and South
What are the effects of a global power shift
Cultural dominance,
Effects on natural resources,
Changing alliances and conflicts,
Impacts on core regions due to the rise of the semi periphery
Outline the conflict that occurred during the period in which there was a biopolar world
The cold war (1945 to 1990) occurred as there was a biopolar wold and so after ww2, the USA and USSR were in a race to become a unipolar superpower.
This included the space race whereby NASA was established in 1958 (USA) but a Russian astronaut was sent to space first (USSR)
How did the USA become a superpower
by 1940 they were the largest manufacturer of industrial and consumer goods,
US dollar was the world’s major currency by 1950 with 60% of all bank reserves held in dollars,
Produces over 25% of global GDP,
Military dominates global arms and defence spending
How did USSR become a superpower
Stalin realised military and industrial strength and conducted a series of five year plans,
In 1941 when Hitler invaded, USSR has industrial strength to defeat Hitler
why does Brazil have the potential to become a superpower
contains half the population of the continent,
spends more on military than the rest of SA,
40 million hectares of land (energy secure)
BUT
Most external debt of all BRICs
why does India have the potential to become a superpower
2nd largest population in the world,
cultural power through IT and English speakers
BUT
resource insecure,
20% live in poverty
why does China have the potential to become a superpower
Direct investment to Africa (300% increase in FDI),
Investment into education and infrastructure,
East is densely populated
BUT
Inequality- much less economic expansion in the North and Interior
