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
how does the world bank promote free market capitalism
- makes development loans to countries to promote industrialisation
- conditions loans to benefit TNCs
how does the IMF promote free market capitalism
- assists countries to reform their economies to benefit TNCs
how does the WEF (world economic forum) promote free market capitalism
- Swiss non-profit
- no rule-making power but promotes globalisation and free trade through holding annual meetings
how does the WTO promote free market capitalism
- regulates global trade
- promotes open trade
- reduces protectionism
the two types of TNCs
- Publicly traded TNCs, shares are owned by numerous shareholders (usually other TNCs, banks and larger financial institutions)
- state-owned TNCs, majority of wholly owned by government (Chinese TNCs, often not global)
why do TNCs have an advantage over other companies
- can outcompete/ take over small companies as they have economies of scale
- bank balances and ability to borrow money allows them to take advantage of globalisation by investing in new technologies
- being allowed to expand as more markets have opened up through the move towards free market capitalism and free trade
brand value
- the value of a brand
- market share, customer opinion of the brand, brand loyalty
Westernisation
- driven by the cultural power of the US and the economic power of the EU
- a culture of consumerism, capitalism, the importance of obtaining wealth
- English as the dominant language
- white, Anglo-Saxon culture
- adapts and absorbs parts of other cultures
cultural hybridisation
- the merging of different cultures to create one global culture
- e.g. McDonald’s adapting menus to suit the tastes of Hindu and Islamic culture
Global patent royalties
- people or companies must pay a royalty or licence fee to use patents, copyrights and trademarks
- 85% of payments go to USA, EU or Japan
costs and benefits of global patent royalties
- ensures artists/inventors are paid for work
- covers testing costs to bring product to market
- often developing TNCs/countries paying developed TNCs/countries
- reflects money and education levels
- often TNCs with existing patents are the ones creating new ones
- questions of quality for new patents
sanctions
Ways in which you can be removed from global relations
- diplomatic, expulsion/removal of embassies
- economic, trade restrictions, freezing bank accounts
- military, ban on weapons trade
- sporting, removing a countries athletes from competition
UN security council
- set up in 1946 by the 4 powers on the winning side of WWII, USA, UK, China, USSR
- 5 permanent member states control the right to military intervention, France, UK, USA, China, Russia
- 10 non-permanent members elected every 2 years
Maintains international law by: - applying sanctions to countries deemed to be a security risk (terrorism, human rights breach, invasion etc)
- authorising use of military force against a country
- authorising UN peacekeeping forces
how has the USA intervened militarily in foreign countries
- as part of UN security council action
- as a coalition with allied countries outside of the UN (NATO)
- with no support from other countries (unilaterally)
how does Iran show that economic sanctions are effective
- western countries were concerned Iran was developing a nuclear weapons program
- USA sanctions in 1995
- UN sanctions in 2006, arms embargo and asset freezes
- EU sanctions 2007
- Iran’s oil exports sanctioned
- Iran’s economy deteriorated so was forced to end its nuclear weapons program in 2015/2016
sphere of influence
a physical region over which a country believes it has economic, cultural or political rights
e.g. US and South America (‘America’s Backyard’)
how does intellectual property rights create tensions between powers
- global systems of intellectual property run by WIPO in the UN since 1967
- ensures TNCs, individuals, and government agencies can protect new inventions, trademarks, artistic works and trade secrets from use by others
- China has tensions between countries (such as USA) as Chinese companies counterfeit products such as Apple and BMW
This may lead to: - TNCs being reluctant to invest in China as counterfeit products are being sold cheaper, so less profit would be made
- trade agreements may be limited
- distrust in China following international policies
Conflicts, Russia’s Western Border
- Russia inherited the Soviet’s sphere of influence
- Eastward expansions of the EU and NATO
- Flashpoints of conflict, Ukraine, Georgia, Transnistria (Russian occupied Moldova)
- Geography, Kaliningrad is Russia’s ice free port, natural resource networks and pipelines
Argument 1: - Russia is threatened by being encircled by western powers, so it protecting its sphere of influence
- resources and links being turned to EU
Argument 2: - Russian policy constructs Ukraine as its place to control
- rooted in Russian ideas of acceptable nationhood and its insiders and outsiders
Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ)
the area of ocean extending 200 nautical miles beyond the coastline over which a nation controls the sea and sub-sea resources. It is decided by the UN in the event of a dispute
Impacts of superpower relationships on developing countries, unfair terms of trade
- cheap commodity exports from the developing world (coffee, cocoa, oil, copper etc) set against expensive manufactured imports from developed countries
- not enough money for imports leads to debt or borrowing
- always leaves developed countries richer than developing countries, so there isn’t a chance to develop
Impacts of superpower relationships on developing countries, Brain drain
= migration of skilled workers from developing countries to boost the developed world
- developing countries left with an aging population and fewer skilled workers, economy cannot grow
- money spent in education is not put back into the economy
Impacts of superpower relationships on developing countries elite capture of extraction
= local wealthy elites who control imports and exports in developing countries
- benefit from the neo-colonial relationship so therefore have no interest in changing it
- imports, exports and governance does not reflect the needs of the general population in developing countries
argument that China’s relationship with Africa is neo-colonial
- China has invested heavily in roads, ports and railways across Africa to export raw materials, increasing efficiency of exports for China to benefit
- skilled and technical jobs on these projects are often filled by Chinese migrant workers
- much of the FDI only brings temporary construction jobs
- cheap Chinese imports undercut local businesses and force them out of business
- Aid from China is tied to FDI
argument that China’s relationship with Africa is a development opportunity
- imports from China have also increased alongside exports, so both benefit from trade
- new infrastructure can also be used by Africans, adding to development
- vital jobs in industry, transport and energy creates, modernises economy
- Chinese factories and mines bring modern working practices and technology to Africa
- Chinese finance has funded 17 major electricity projects
- investment deals are often accompanied by aid
Problems with GDP (gross domestic product)
- Doesn’t show where the country is in the supply chain
- ignores the importance of TNCS in a globalized world
- overinflates endpoints, so is just the value of economic transactions.
The Arab Spring
- A series of pro-democracy and pro-human rights civil uprisings from 2010 across North Africa and the Middle East to bring down dictators and fight inequalities
- led to civil wars in Yemen, Syria and Libya
- Started in Tunisia, which became a new democracy
- Some governments were overthrown but many countries were much more politically unstable after the uprisings
Economic challenges in the EU and the USA
- The EU has a larger challenge, as although the USA have more debt, the dollar being the global currency means that it is less vulnerable to economic shocks
- however the debt in the EU is a drag on economic growth
- The USA has more TNCs and lower unemployment.
Demographic challenges in the EU and the USA
- The EU has a larger challenge, as it has an aging population and the population is also likely to fall
- social costs on the government will be raised, and the workforce will drop
- On the other hand, the population in the USA will still grow and is aging slower
- Social costs also do not fall on the government as much due to a privatized healthcare system.
Political challenges in the EU and the USA
Both the EU and the USA have political challenges.
EU:
- Tensions about union resulting in Brexit
- relationships with Russia are strained
- immigration is dividing countries
USA:
- race relations are strained
- there is often political deadlock between Democrats and Republicans nationally.
Resource challenges in the EU and the USA
Energy security is more of a challenge in the EU, as most oil and gas is imported from Russia. Water insecurity as more of a challenge in southwest USA
Social challenges in the EU as the USA
Youth unemployment is a large problem in the EU. There is a lost generation of young people due to political disaffection. House spending in the USA is a huge cost to families and governments and there is an obesity health crisis.
Alternative superpower futures in 2030, a unipolar world (US)
- US hegemony and dominance continues
- China faces economic crisis and ceases to grow rapidly
- This may be likely if China stops challenging the USA due to an aging population and wages rising so TNCs are moved to other countries
- China is no longer the largest economy and has no political role
Alternative superpower futures in 2030, a multipolar world.
- Emerging powers continue to grow while the EU and USA decline
- Creates broadly equal powers with regional but not global influence
- It is unlikely as no global power would rise to become global police, leading to instability.
Alternative superpower futures in 2030, a bipolar world.
- New Cold War
- China rises to become equal in power to the USA
- Nations align themselves to one or the other
- China starts to play a geopolitical role and more military growth is likely.
Alternative superpower futures in 2030, a unipolar world (Asia)
- Economic, social and political problems reduce power of the USA and the EU
- Power shifts to Asian emerging powers led by China
- tensions need to be solved between China and Southeast Asia for this to happen
- political instability needs to be overcome to become global political players
- lead to demand for resources.
Spheres of contest, the South China Seas
- The main players are China, Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia, the USA (allies to Philippines etc)
- China is building islands by pumping sand onto reefs in the South China Sea for military bases and natural resources.
-China claims it has a historical Claim to the South China Sea’s ignoring the 200 mile EEZ. - The Philippines, Vietnam and Malaysia all claimed the islands in the South China Sea. - China believes these islands belong to them and built military bases to show force.
- China uses ships to block off the trading routes
- Other countries are arresting Chinese boats for trespassing.
- The Hague ruled China invaded the Philippines, and China refused to admit it.
- The US wants to resolve this, but not to go to war with China
- in 2020, China announced creation of two new districts in South China Sea on islands claimed by Vietnam.
Spheres of contest, China’s belt and road initiative.
- An infrastructure project led by China to re route global trade
- Over 60 countries have signed agreements
- Countries in debt to China that have signed give China control of ports built under the belt and roads initiative
- China is trying to establish military bases along the Silk Group
- makes China a player in the Arctic with Russia as an ally
- strengthening ties between China and Pakistan makes Indian nervous
- tying China with Iran makes the US nervous
- strengthens China’s influence in Vietnam, Singapore, Sri Lanka and Turkey.
Spheres of contest, who owns the Arctic Ocean?
The players of Russia, Greenland and Canada. Russia has coal mines in Svalbard for strategic reasons
- There are lots of oil and gas reserves in the Arctic
- new shipping routes could be created
- The ocean in the middle is not a part of any country’s EEZ
- Un using submarines to find continental shelves to determine the borders
- Russia and Greenland’s continental claims overlap
- Russia is renovating military outposts in the Arctic and publishing military exercises to scare other countries
- in 2007, Russia put a flag underwater on the North Pole
- Russia and Canada have put together Arctic forces to protect their interests.
China’s nutrient transition.
An increase in development and globalization led to a demand in new food types.
- Land converted to produce meat and dairy
- Land prices rise as more land has to be used for farming
- China has an increased carbon footprint and more deforestation.
How do TNCS maintain their technological advantage?
- Holding patents so anyone using their technologies have to pay a fee to them
- This gives TNC is more money for research and development to create new technologies and therefore new patents.
- controlling supply chains
- buying competition
