Superpowers Flashcards
Political power
The ability to influence the policies of other countries through the dominance of negotiations. (Both bilaterally & through international organisations).
Superpower
A country with the ability to project its dominating power and influence anywhere in the world, sometimes in more than one region of the globe at a time.
Emerging superpower
Countries with a role in one or more superpower characteristics, & with growing influence. E.g. Brazil, India, China & Russia
Regional power
Can project dominating influence over other countries within their continent or region. e.g. South Africa and Nigeria in Africa.
Cultural influence
The ability to influence the beliefs, values, ideology & way of life in other countries.
Hyperpower
One, globally dominating superpower.
Hard power
Using military and economic influences (trade deals, sanctions) to force a country to act in a particular way.
Soft power
More subtle persuasion of countries to act in particular way, on the basis that the persuader is respected & appealing. Includes political persuasion (diplomacy) & cultural influence.
-International rankings of soft power usually place the UK, US, Ger, France (Western liberal democracies).
The ‘great power competition’
(Loosely defined term- meaning still evolving). Refers to the competition between established superpowers mainly the U.S, Russia, & rising superpowers such as China to influence international norms, win influence, & shape international discourses & practices.
Colonialism
Where an external nation takes direct control of a territory, often by force.
Aid dependency
The level to which a country can’t perform many of the basic functions of governance without overseas aid.
Arctic amplification
The phenomenon where the Arctic region is warming twice as fast as the global average.
Austerity
The policy of reducing gov spending and debt.
Brics
Collective term for Brazil, Russia, India & China (and, latterly, South Africa) which were predicted (by writer Richard Scase in 2000) to show rapid economic growth.
Democracy aid
The allocation of funds to other countries for democracy building.
Deregulation
The reduction in government involvement in finance and business.
Development aid
Financial aid given to developing countries to support their long-term economic, political, social and environmental development.
Economic restructuring
The shift in employment from the primary and secondary sectors into tertiary and quaternary.
Economic sanctions
Financial penalties (such as freezing assets or trade embargoes) which are designed to put pressure on another country to change their polices or behaviour.
Import substitution
Boosting domestic manufacturing and production as a substitute for previously imported products.
Intergovernmental organisation (IGO)
An organisation involving several countries working together on issues of common interest.
International Monetary fund (IMF)
A global organisation whose primary role is to maintain international financial stability.
Modernisation theory
A theory that believed that poverty was a trap; traditional family values in poorer countries held economies back; and that capitalism was the solution to poverty.
Nationalism
A patriotic feeling of pride and loyalty to a nation.
Neo-colonialism
Describes how even though less-developed countries may no longer be directly ruled by another, they are still controlled indirectly through economic, cultural and political means.
2015 Paris agreement
Legally binding global climate deal, adopted by 195 countries at the UN’s Paris climate Conference (COP21) in December 2015.
Privatisation
The transfer of state or government assets into ownership by private individuals, companies or shareholders.
Proxy war
A war instigated by a major power that’s not always directly involved in the fighting.
Schengen Agreement
An agreement which abolished many of the internal border controls within the EU and enabled passport-free movement across most EU member states.
Sectoral sanctions
Penalties that are imposed on targeted key areas in another country, such as energy, banking, finance, defense and technology.
Soft power
The power that arises from a country’s political and economic influence, moral authority and cultural attractiveness.
Unilateral actions
One country, or group of countries acting against another, for example, without formal UN security council.
Wallerstein’s world systems theory
A theory which claims that core regions drive the world economy and that peripheral areas (distant from the core and lacking capital) rely on core regions to exploit their raw materials. Therefore, unequal trade develops between them.
Washington consensus
A belief that economic efficiency can only be achieved if regulations are removed.
World bank
A global organisation whose role is to finance development.
World trade organisation (WTO)
A global organisation which looks at the rules for how countries trade with each other.
Patent
Legal protection given to a new invention (new intellectual property).
Other companies can use it but only after paying a royalty fee to the inventor (usually a company). The WTO enforces intellectual property rights.
