Superpowers Flashcards
What are the 2 case studies for the use of hard power in maintaining superpower status?
Russia-Ukraine conflict, British Empire
When did Russia invade Ukraine and why?
Feb 2022, feared that Ukraine would join NATO so smaller alliance of countries and loss of a physical barrier
What fraction of the world’s population did the British Empire reign over at its height?
Over 1/4 of the population
What was the British Empire used as a vehicle for?
Trade, political influence, diffusion of English language
What part of the British Raj did the British Empire capitalise on?
Large population and soldiering being an honourable tradition in India –> became backbone of military power
What is the case study for soft power?
Ghana (IMF)
When did Ghana become a crude oil-exporting nation and by what % has production risen by?
December 2010, 173%
What % of Ghana’s finished petroleum products are imported back into Ghana?
80%
What is the case study for cultural neo-colonialism?
Apple (soft power)
What has Apple become as a result of technological innovation and advertising (cultural neo-colonialism)?
Most powerful brand in the world
How much more does Apple have in cash reserves than the US government (cultural neo-colonialism)?
3x more
What is the case study for political neo-colonialism?
World Bank (reinforces hegemony of US)
What is economic/political decision-making by the World Bank dependent on and what % of this is held by developed nations?
Voting, 60% voting shares held by developed nations
What is the case study for miltary neo-colonialism?
Saudi Arabia
What % of global oil reserves does Saudi Arabia hold and which country is Saudi Arabia in conflict with (military neo-colonialism)?
60%, Iran
Who is supplying arms to Saudi Arabia (military neo-colonialism)?
USA
What are the BRIC countries (emerging powers)?
Brazil, Russia, India, China
What is a strength of Russia?
Large oil and gas reserves so huge export potential
What is a weakness of Russia?
Difficult relations with the rest of the world and now has economic sanctions after Ukraine invasion
What is a strength of China?
One Belt One Road initiative distributes wealth more evenly across the country
What is a weakness of China?
Conflict with US as One Belt One Road will bypass heavily US-dominated maritime routes, conflict with India over growing influence
What are 2 strengths of India?
Large, youthful population (65% under 35) so strong workforce, 2nd largest English-speaking country in the world so benefit from outsourcing
What are 2 weaknesses of India?
Don’t have good coastal protection, potential conflict with China over China’s growing influence
Which 3 IGOs do superpowers influence the global economy with (promote free trade/capitalism)?
IMF, World Bank, WTO (see migration for 7.3a)
What are the 3 ways that TNCs can develop the economic/political dominance of a superpower?
- Offshoring/outsourcing
- Brand value
- Lobbying national gov.s
How does offshoring/outsourcing of TNCs develop the economic dominance of the USA (includes app.)?
Production offshored/outsourced to countries with cheaper labour so decreased cost of production, Apple is largest taxpayer so more profit means more corp. tax for USA
How does the brand value of TNCs develop the economic dominance of the USA (includes app.)?
TNCs important in westernisation, Apple works with global media TNC Comcast to advertise their products which encourages consumerism and western ideologies e.g. capitalism which reinforces economic hegemony of USA
What proportion of people own an iPhone globally and what was Apple’s brand value in 2022?
1 in 7, $335 billion
What is the case study for TNCs lobbying national gov.s developing the economic/political dominance of the USA?
Ghana
Which US TNC relies on cocoa resources from Ghana (TNCs lobbying national gov.s and developing economic/political dominance of USA)?
Mars
How does TNCs lobbying national gov.s develop the economic/political dominance of the USA?
Ghana imports most of its finished chocolate goods at an inflated price which reduces economic/political power of Ghana and maintains US hegemony
What is the application for capitalism leading to the growth of TNCs?
In 2022 Apple had a market value of $3 trillion
How does capitalism lead to the growth of TNCs?
Promotes private ownership of businesses with little regulation on economic growth/profit through offshoring/outsourcing which leads to economies of scale (reduces competition) so TNCs can reinvest into research + development to produce new technologies which facilitates growth
What is the linked evaluation for the UN?
Any permanent members can veto a decision which leads to lack of progress towards the aim of collective security
When did Russia veto the Ukraine solution (UN linked evaluation)?
Feb 2022
What is the linked evaluation for UNSC sanctions?
Placed sanctions on North Korea to slow development of nuclear weapons but uneven implementations from different nations so resulted in illicit economies which resulted in increasingly significant economic relations with China and Russia
When did China and Russia veto the sanctions suggested by the USA on North Korea (UNSC sanctions evaluation)?
May 2022
What is the linked evaluation for UNSC peacekeepers?
Brought cholera to Haiti during MINSUTAH which resulted in 10,000 deaths, didn’t intervene in Rwanda conflict which resulted in 800,000 deaths