superpowers Flashcards
Characteristics of superpowers
(2021)
USA GDP - $23.3 trillion
China GDP - $17 trillion
Japan - £4.9 trillion
UK - £3.1 trillion
India - £3.2 trillion
Russia - £1.9 trillion
- in 2010, China’s share of global economic power was 12.3%, but in 2030 it is forecasted to be 18%, meaning it should be the world leading economic powerhouse in the future
- US military spending is $778.2 Billion, which is more than the next 15 countries combined
-US, India, UK , Russia and China pose nuclear weapons.
Heartland theory
-Mackinder believed whoever controlled Europe and Asia would control the world - the biggest land mass
-Believed in a heartland extending from Eastern Europe to Russia - known as the pivot
-whoever ruled the pivot will rule the heartland, essentially ruling the world.
-further, you are away from the heartland, the less influence a country has.
Present-day evidence for this theory:
- Ottoman and Persian empires existed in this region
-natural resources such as oil in the middle east - crucial for world dominance
- the world’s breadbasket - Russia and Ukraine produce 20% of total world grain.
-Surrounded by mountains and dessert - hard to attack
- difficult to access by sea
-natural gas and oil reserves.
Emerging powers (BRICS)
Brazil
Brazil:
Demographics:
- population 190 million
- 6 different ethnicities
-world’s largest amount of indigenous tribes
-lots of migration in the 19th century, so there was a big influence of Asian and European culture in Brazil
- 65% roman Catholic
-lag in education
Military:
-2nd largest Military in Latin America, with conscription of 1.6 million soldiers annually.
- Brazil has not been invaded since 1865
-Active member of the UN peacekeeping force
- Brazil has no disputes with its neighbours.
Economic:
-Largest economy in South America
-GDP growth is 4.5%-7.5 %
- a huge boom in local commodities such as soya bean and ore due to the developing world
-21% of GDP invested in society social programs
-world cup 2014 - 600000 tourist
- however, too reliant on selling their own commodities
political:
- similar political system to the USA
Emerging powers (BRICS)
Russia
Demographics:
-the population is 144 million
- over 200 ethnic groups
- againg population
-life expectancy is 70.8 years
Economic:
- GDP growth of 1.4%
- produced 12 % of world oil and is world’s largest natural gas exporter
-service sector = 60% if GDP and employs 63% of the national workforce
- 2008 oil price crash meant lost revenue
-2014 economic sanction by USA and UN for getting involved in the Syrian war - economic damage
- Too reliant on gas and oil sales.
Military:
-spend 5.4% of GDP on their military
- the invasion of Ukrain to increase their sphere of influence
- 5000 nuclear missiles
-ally to the president of Syria, Bashar Al Assad who fights and kills his people
political:
-6 year long term
- president is elected on a majority vote but it is rigged every time
- only support ruthless leaders globally, hence the sanctions
Emerging powers (BRICS)India
Demographics:
-Population of 1.2 billion
- 3 main ethnic groups
- religious country: Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs
-millions living in poverty
Military:
- spend 2.4 % of GDP on their military
- increase in nuclear weapons
- disputes with China over Tibet
- Dispute with Pakistan over Kashmir
Economic:
- GDP growth of 7.1%
- IT boom, 53% of GDP
- increasing middle class, increasing consumerism
-the workforce of 501 million
- a high proportion of the population is in poverty.
Political:
- 5 year term of prime minister
- too many regional politics, hard to get a policy to get through
Emerging powers (BRICS) China
Demographics:
-1.37 billion
- 6 megacities
-58 officially recognised ethnic groups
- aging population, 25-54 years, make up 48% of the total population
- 75 year life expectancy
- no more one-child policy
Military:
- spend 1.9% of GDP on military
- compulsory conscription
- access to ports in Pakistan and Sri Lanka
- reclaiming territory in the South China sea
Economic:
-GDP growth of 6.7 %
- huge urban population
- increase in factory workers
-communist policies prevent economic growth
Political:
- Communist party have tight control over all parts of society
-president elected by nation’s people’s congress of 3000 people
-CCP have final say on everything.
Congested geography and superpower tensions:
South China sea
-players involved: China, Taiwan, Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei and Vietnam
Causes of conflict:
- trade, the South China sea is vital to the flow of global maritime trade. Nations located in the South China sea depend on exporting goods and importing raw resources. The sea carries 35% of all oil carried.
- biodiversity and physical resources: 12% of the global fishing catch, 116 billion barrels of oil and 190 tons feet^3 of natural gas. Heavy competition for resources
- by claiming island countries can expand their Exclusive Economic Zone.
Actions being undertaken that cause conflict:
-China is building artificial islands on the Spratley islands
- china placing submarines, destroyers and aircraft carriers.
- the first island chain - protect Taiwan
-China is expanding its navy presence
- nine-dash line (China maritime claim)- a series of disconnected lines if connected, will enclose 80% of the South China sea
- Philippines has challenged china and an arbitration award has been given to nations for their EEZ claim of 200 NM
-China is unlikely to follow the claim and maintain its self procliamed soverignty.
Congested geography and superpower tensions:
Ukraine
Players involved:
-Russia - want to increase its sphere of influence and security by invading Ukraine
-NATO - Ukraine joining NATO will mean it will slip out of its geopolitical and geoeconomic dependence
Causes of conflict:
- Russia is scared to be surrounded by countries which pose as a security risk, Ukraine aspiration to join NATO was the reason for Russia’s invasion.
- Russia annexed Crimea in 2014 for economic reasons as it will have access to the black sea and the sea of Azov.
-china increasing economic presence in Ukraine makes Russia feel it is losing its presence - Ukraine allowed Chinese investment in all parts of the economy.
Attitudes of different players:
- Russia - want to control Ukraine
- NATO - uneasy about allowing Ukraine to join NATO as it will have additional commitments
- Ukraine - want to join EU for economic prosperity and NATO for security
China- Ukraine is the perfect hub between EU and central Asia for goods.
Congested geography and superpower tensions:
Artic tension
Players involved:
-The Artic power - exclusion from matters of peace and security
-superpowers - untapped resources
-TNCs- untapped oil resources
Causes of conflict:
- sovereign nations laying claims over it EEZ over 200 NM
-22% of world recoverable resources- superpowers are keen to profit of such natural resources such as Russia
Actions that cause conflict:
- Canada committed to spending $3.5 billion on artic defences
- Russia upgrading soviet bases and naval bases
- Russian flag planted by scientists whilst they gathered geophysical evidence for their claim
Attitudes of stakeholders:
-Russia - want access to untapped resources
- the artic council - increasing have a geopolitical role
-TNC- will lobby governments to place claims on territories to benefit claims.
possible outcomes:
-strong superpowers like Russia will start drilling to access untapped resources
-unable to meet climate change targets
China’s relationship with Africa
Belt and road initiative(BRI)
- China attempt to expand it sphere of influence - $4-8 trillion dollar by 2049
- huge infrastructure corridor in central and south Asia as well as Africa
- shipment times will fall by 12% for countries that join this initiative
- china and pak strong ties
- loans are given to LICs which are huge infrastructure project which is not feasible so they default on the loans, and eventually, China take over - the port in Sri Lanka, Pakistan port
-expand china to different markets
Africa:
Pro:
- high investment in vital infrastructure which can be used by local Africans - Addis Ababa light rail
-vital jobs created in the industrial sector - modernise the job market
-create energy security - adding 6780MW of energy to the continent since 2013
-investment accompanied by aid.
Cons:
- skilled workers filled by Chinese, 200000 in 2013
-cheap Chinese imports undercut local produce
- much of the FDI bring temporary jobs
- Aid tied to FDI
-oil spills by Chinese funded wells
- China has access to REEs
- essentially, the BRI help create demand for Chinese good globally as well as increase it market. It help further grow it economy, which faces slow growth rates.
Tensions in the Middle East
-Colonisers drew up borders which cut through tribes and ethnic groups, hence today’s conflict. - Straight borders in North Africa
- Cultural tension between Iraq and Iran over sunni and shia.
Iraq:
-Saddam Hussien started the gulf war. Killed by the US who installed a weak western government
- some people say overthrowing Saddam by the US was so that the US can access Irqai oil
Afghanistan:
- Afghanistan attractive to soviet union in 70s and 80s due to it opium trade
- Afghanistan ruled by drug barren who dealt in arms
-America’s failed intervention
-innocent lives lost and US taxpayer’s money wasted.
-9/11 war on terror
Isreal:
- parts of the state disputed by Palestinians who lived in the region for years.
- US supports Isreal by moving it embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalam.
- Jerusalem is claimed by Palestinians
- US want to maintain presence in the Arab world
-
Global intergovernmental organisations’ actions and attitudes:
UN international court of justice
The court (based in the Hague, The Netherlands) settles disputes between different UN
member states. The ICJ has 15 judges of which 5 are from the West with the remaining from
other parts of the world. It aims to achieve geopolitical stability and hold governments
accountable for actions against the welfare and human rights of their people.
Global intergovernmental organisations’ actions and attitudes: UN climate change conference
Finally, the UN also aims to encourage the protection of the environment and the reduction
of greenhouse gas emissions. The changing attitude of many state governments has been
caused by several important conferences:
● Montreal Protocol - Finalised in 1987. Aimed to stop the use of CFCs and Halons,
both highly damaging to the ozone layer.
● The Kyoto Protocol - Held in 1997. Aimed to generally reduce greenhouse gas
emissions
● The Paris Agreement - Held in 2015. Highest number of signatures/ states participating to date. However, key emitters such as the USA have withdrawn since
Geo strategies
Military Alliances
NATO - NATO is a group of nations which was formed during the Cold War and consists of
allies of the USA. Its main policy dictates that if one member gets attacked, other members
will come and assist that country.
- Recent Russian military activity in Ukraine and Eastern Europe has brought NATO
members together as they don’t want Russia to gain control of more land and influence more
people. This has led to an escalation of tensions and NATO has sent in more troops.
ANZUS Treaty - This is a security agreement between Australia, New Zealand and the US.
The aim of the treaty is to cooperate on military matters in the Pacific. The treaty has allowed
the US to maintain a presence in the Pacific.
Geo strategies
Economic Alliances
European Union - The EU began with just six founding nations but has since increased to
include 28 member states. The EU promotes free trade and movement of goods and people
between member states. There is increasing tensions within different EU states from those
who want greater integration and cooperation and those who want to leave (e.g. Brexit).
ASEAN - This consists of 10 South-East Asian nations. The organisation was formed to
encourage greater cooperation between the different states and also increase economic
growth in the region. This cooperation is important since there has been historic conflict
between ASEAN States.
NAFTA - This consists of free trade between Mexico, Canada and the US. Many companies
in Canada and the US have benefitted as they have relocated many of their manufacturing
plants to Mexico due to lower labour costs which in turn have increased their profit margins.
However, this has come at a cost to many Americans and Canadians as many have lost
their jobs, leading to a rise of extreme political opinions - Donald Trump has vowed to leave
the free trade area in order to protect and bring back job to the USA (protectionism).
