Superpowers Flashcards
What is a superpower?
A nation which has the ability to project its influence around the world through hard or soft power.
What is global influence?
Means a superpower has big decision making and they are often a global force for change
What are the four pillars of superpower status?
Strong economic base
Military
Political and ideology
Cultural influence
Why is a strong economic base important to be a superpower?
A large economy enables a nation to control trade
Also spend more on military
Why is military important as a superpower?
Can use hard power to threaten or invade countries
Why does Political and Ideological factors influence superpowers?
Be able to influence county which suits/ matches their political desires.
Many countries force ideologies through policies
Why does culture play a big role in being a superpower?
Projecting a nations cultural values on others can change the way other populations think and align their ideology with the superpowers.
How is culture spread across the world?
Through social media, films, music, food, art etc
What is an example of culture being spread?
Westernisation
What are the two resources a superpower can use to exercise their power?
Physical resources
Human Resources
Explain why it’s good to have physical resources?
Oil and gas can be used as a way to develop a countries economy as other countries can be reliant on it therefore exercise power through trade
What is an example of exerting power through physical resources?
Russia providing gas to Europe
Explain how having Human Resources can benefit a superpower?
A large human workforce if utilised properly can help develop a nations economy
Example of countries using Human Resources?
China and India use their populations to manufacture goods to trade which develops their economy
What are the two types of power?
Soft power
Hard power
What is hard power?
Using military and direct political intervention to change or influence the behaviour of other countries
What is soft power?
Influencing other countries using indirect techniques such as political persuasion and cultural influence
What ways can a country use hard power?
Military action
Threat of trade restrictions (embargo’s)
Use of economic sanctions to damage a nations economy
Owning debt of other countries
What ways can a country use soft power?
Attractive culture and lifestyle
Sought-after political advice
Foreign trade policies that encourage migration
Trade alliances
FDI
Explain how Mackinders theory explains power changing over time?
The theory explains that geolocation helping countries exert hard power, this changed over time as smart and soft power are more prevalent
Who has more power in Mackinders theory?
The heartland is very hard to invade because of physical barriers in the way. Eg Most of Russia
What is Wallerstines world systems theory?
Two economic theories: core, periphery
In Wallerstines what features do core countries have?
Core regions are economic powerhouses and control most of global trade such as trade agreements and trading currency
What does Wallerstines theory explain?
Inequality in wealth and development. Shows how the core exploits the periphery (colonialism) and the periphery is forced to provide resources
Give an example of Wallerstines theory
The British empires exploitation of India for natural resources
What are the stages of Rostows modernisation theory?
Traditional society
Pre conditions for take off
Take off
Drive to maturity
High mass consumption
Explain the traditional society stage (Rostow)
Subsidence Farming, Primary industry, Traditional Cultures and values
Explain the pre conditions for takeoff (Rostows)
Construction of infrastructure, specialising or manufacturing industries
Explain the takeoff stage (Rostow)
Industrialisation, investment, further construction
Explain the drive to maturity (Rostows)
Adoption of global culture, increase in domestic quality of life
Explain the high mass consumption stage (Rostows)
Throw-away society, advanced technology
What is a unipolar world?
One country dominates e.g USA currently
What is a Bi-polar world?
Where there are two main superpowers e.g USA and USSR cold war
What is a multi-polar world?
Where there are several powers and emerging powers competing for power and global influence
How did the British empire maintain power during the imperial era?
Railway lines to transport goods/army
A strong navy
Improved education in colonial states
The English language was now the business language
What are the negative impacts of colonial power?
Farmers and primary manufacturers were left with little to invest
Many colonies didn’t have their own governments
Large discrimination policies
What is neo colonialism?
The exploitative relationship between more powerful developed countries who are using their relationship with less developed countries for their own benefit
Why did countries colonise?
Empires exploited their colonies for commodities such as sugar, cotton and tea
What has caused a multi-polar world?
Socialist economies collapsed in USSR and Eastern Europe
China become capitalist
Reform from communist Cuba
What are the two groups of states?
BRICS
G20
What countries are part of the BRICS?
Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa
What countries are part of the G20?
EU
Turkey
Indonesia
South Korea
Saudi
Mexico
What is a blue water navy?
Operates in open ocean all over the world
What is a green water navy?
Operates close to the coast and protects the one country
China strengths?
2nd largest GDP
powerful manufacturing economy
Growing military power and technology
China weaknesses?
Ageing population
Unwilling to engage with global problems
Environmental problems
India’s strengths?
Youthful population will become large working age population soon
Global leader in IT technology
India weaknesses?
Widespread poverty
Poor energy and transport infrastructure
Lack of water resources
Brazil’s strengths?
Huge natural resources and farming potential
Modern economic structure
Brazil weaknesses?
Economy gas boom and bust cycles
Limited military strength
Russia strengths?
Very powerful, nuclear armed military
Large oil and gas reserves
Russia weaknesses?
Difficult relations with rest of world
Ageing population
Japan strengths?
3rd largest GDP
Technologically advanced economy and global TNCs
Culturally influential via technology eg gaming
Japan weaknesses?
Ageing and decking population
Very slow economic growth since 1990
How do superpowers influence the global economy?
They do it through multiple IGOs that promote free trade and capitalism
What is an IGO?
Inter-governmental organisation
What is the combined GDP of the USA, EU and Japan?
60% of worlds GDP
What features do superpowers have? (trade)
They are capitalist
Promote free trade in goods and services across borders
Private enterprise
Promote wealth and creation by companies
Put quotas on developing countries
Explanation of world bank?
Created 1944
Lends to LEDCs to promote economic development
Uses western capitalist model
Money originates from MEDCs
Explanation of IMF?
Created 1945
Promotes global economic stability
Aids economies in opening up to world trade and investment
AIDS countries in economic struggle
Explanation of WTO?
Created 1995
Works to remove barriers to international trade
Try’s to remove taxes, quotas and promotes free trade
Explanation of WEF? (World economic forum)
Created 1971
Non profit org from Swiss
Forum for discussions between businesses, politicians and IGOs
It is pro trade and pro TNCs
