Superpowers Flashcards
superpower
a nation with the ability to project its influence anywhere in the world and be a dominant global force
blue water navy
deep water ocean navy
ideology
a set of beliefs, values and opinions held by many people in a society. These determine what is considered acceptable behaviour
5 pillars of superpower status
- Economic – A large economy enables a nation to control trade. They can also use their
money to invest in a strong military force and exploit natural resources. They may also own the debt of other nations thereby having power over them. - Military – A nation can use their military to threaten or invade other countries (hard power) or to achieve geo-political goals (such as UN Peacekeeping Missions).
- Political – The ability to influence other countries in a way which suits their
desires or match their political systems. Many
states may force their ideology through policies. - Cultural – Projecting a nation’s cultural values on others can change the way other populations think and align their ideology with the superpower’s culture. Often spread via social media, films, music, food, art etc
- Resources, - physical resources like oil and gas (if a nation has the means to exploit them) and human resources like a large workforce
neo-colonialism
the control of one state by another using indirect means
6 methods of neo-colonialism
- strategic alliances
- aid
- TNC investment
- terms of trade inhibiting development
- debtor-creditor relationships
- control over economic institutions e.g. World Bank, IMF
Hegemony
the dominance of a superpower over other countries
intergovernmental organisations (IGOs)
regional/global organisations whose members are nation states e.g. UN/IMF/WTO
Superpowers have the most power over IGOs
Free market capitalism
- private ownership of property
- private ownership of businesses
- the right to make a profit and accumulate any amount of wealth
- buying and selling of goods and services in a competitive free market with limited restrictions
Cold War
- a period of tension between ideologically rival superpowers, the capitalist USA and communist USSR that lasted from 1945-1990
- also the period where nuclear weapons and systems to deliver them were perfected, adding to the tension
How did the British (Empire) control India
Economically
- modernised through construction of railways for efficient transport of goods and troops
Military
- used Navy to control trading companies
- used railway to deploy troops to put down rebellions
Culturally
- British language, culture and traditions introduced (acculturation)
- strict social order enforced, differentiating white British and Indian elite
reasons for decolonisation post WWII
- post war bankruptcy meant no money to run or defend colonies
- more focus on post war reconstruction
- anti-colonial movements in colonised countries grew increasingly strong
- US desire for spreading democratic ideologies
why is the EU not considered a superpower?
- the nations rarely agree easily, so there is a weak ‘global message’ as many decisions are compromised
- EU economy is weak since 2008 financial crisis
- demographically, ageing population, unemployment and pensions (affect economy)
- Brexit distracted EU, may weaken it
Why has Japan failed to progress and never reached the superpower status
- property value bubble burst in 1990 led to a collapse of Japanese stock market
- high interest rates encouraged saving not spending
- ageing population slowed economy
- more competitive Asian economies stole Japan’s lead on hi-tech consumer goods
Explaining the growth of superpowers, dependency theory
- developed
by A.G Frank - views the world as
having a economically developed core
and underdeveloped periphery - the core deliberately exploits the
cheap resources in the periphery, which
therefore keeps them in a state of
underdevelopment - As a result the core
gets wealthier and the periphery remains
poor - The core uses aid in order to
prevent them from getting restless.
evaluation of the dependency theory
- core countries extract profit and periphery only develops if the sore allows it to
- China and India have developed despite being the ‘workshops for the world’ - pre global shift
- underdevelopment can also be due to poor leadership, climate etc not just exploitation
- doesn’t take into account disparities between regions
Explaining the growth of superpowers, Wallerstein’s world system theory model
- created
by Wallerstein in an attempt to overcome the problem of a ‘core and
periphery world’ - views the
world as three tier - It allows some
countries to enter the semi-periphery
and then the core - periphery provides raw materials and the core countries use the semi-periphery countries as cheap locations to manufacture the goods
- periphery is least likely to profit
evaluation of Wallerstein’s world system theory model
- Appreciates that there is a dependency on the core by the periphery and vice versa
- allows more movement between periphery and core than the dependency theory
- does not take into account internal factors in LICs
- no clear defining line as to if a country is core or periphery
- more of an analysis rather than an explanation
- Marxist as divides into owners and workers
Explaining the growth of superpowers, The Rostow Model
- used to explain the British
Empires dominance of the USA - countries economies grew in five stages, with each stage having to
be achieved through the use of free trade, capitalism and democracy - As a result he said that the USSR and China
could not expect to develop without
following this model - 1st stage is the traditional society based on subsistence farming, fishing, forestry and some mining
- 2nd stage is pre-conditions for take-off, building key infrastructure
- 3rd stage is take-off, industrial revolution, better infrastructure, financial investment, cultural change
- 4th stage is drive to maturity, new ideas and technology improves and replaces older industries, economic growth spreads throughout the country
- 5th stage is high mass consumption, consumer society to to more wealth, welfare system fully developed, trade expands
evaluation of the Rostow model
- Allows the development
of a country to be easily
seen as they will be within one of the five stages of development - based on the UK/US’ development
- ignores globalisation and negative flows of capital
- ignores imperialism
- argues development is linear
- Doesn’t take into account regional and cultural
factors
Soft power
Attracting national governments and
individuals to their country through
- Attractive culture & lifestyle, spread through global media
- Sought-after political advice
- Foreign policies that encourage
migration
- Trade alliances
- Foreign direct investment in
business, infrastructure or facilities
hard power
Using military and direct political intervention
to change or influence the behaviour of other
countries.
- Military action
- Threat of trade restrictions
(embargos)
- Use of economic sanctions to damage
a nation’s economy
- Owning the debt of other countries
Mackinder’s Heartland theory (1904)
- The British geographer Mackinder classified a region of Eurasia as the ‘Heartland’
- argued that the Heartland was a geo-strategic location because whoever controlled it
would control large amount of physical and human resources - though that land travel by rail was the best way to gain power, and inland meant safety
-contributed to policies of containment (limit Germany’s expansion into this strategic area after WWI, NATO allies tried to contain the Soviets from expanding into south and west after WWII) - shrinking world reduced importance, sea travel and warfare became more important
Unipolar world
– One country dominates e.g. the USA currently or the British Empire
during colonial times
- the country is unlikely to be able to maintain control everywhere
Bi-polar world
– Where there are two main superpowers with opposing ideas and
ideologies e.g. the USA and USSR during the Cold War
- breakdown of control or communication between the two powers could lead to conflict
Multi-polar world
– Where there are several powers and emerging powers competing
for power and global influence
- fears over alliances or misjudging intentions of others could lead to conflict
