Superpowers Flashcards
Cwhat is a superpower
a country that projects its power and dominance over the rest of the world, demanding lots of resources
what is an emerging power
the rising influence of a nation, primarily economic, steadily increasing their presence in global affairs
what is a regional superpower
have strong influence within their region, but are less powerful outside (south Africa)
what is hard power and an example
using military force
Putins invasion of Ukraine
what is sharp power
manipulation of political decision making
Russian trollbots on social media for US election
what is economic power
having influence through economic dominance or investment in an area
Chinas investment in African infrastructure
what is soft power
persuasion aligned with particular cultural beliefs
BBC world service
what is the heartland theory
who rules the heartland, commands the global island, who rules the global island, commands the world
is the heartland theory still relevant
though there are plentiful resources in the heartland, a superpower now needs more than resources, such as technology, alliances and political stability
define imperialism
aquisition by a government of other territories, often by force
how did the British empire use direct control (colonial power)
suppressed local cultures and populated them with British farmers
and invested heavily in the navy to become the most powerful in the world, helped to keep countries under control
what is indirect control (neo-colonialism) and who uses it
using capitalism, globalisation and cultural imperialism to influence a developing country
could be used by countries for political reasons, TNCs to develop advantages and international organisations
how did the cold war impact how power was maintained
by the development of nuclear weapons, indirect control was used more predominately to stop nuclear wars
what are the risks of a uni and bi polar world
creates a relatively stable geo-political status, as one country has more power than all the rest
what are the risks of a multi polar world
creates instability when emerging powers compete with eachother
such as China building military bases in the South China sea, which other powers claim as theirs
strengths of Brazil
environmentally important (Amazon)
economy reached 2.6 trillion in 2016
weaknesses of Brazil
serious political corruption
military is weak compared to other BRIC nations
strengths of Russia
very strong military
rich in resources
permanently on UN security council
weaknesses of Russia
GDP is dependent on oil
very high inequality
hostility against Russia, sanctions by EU
strengths of India
huge labour market (500 million)
lots of allies
youthful population
weaknesses of India
more than 70% of rural population still in poverty
weak infrastructure
water insecurity
strengths of China
worlds second largest economy
growth has lifted 800 million out of poverty
skilled workforce
weaknesses of China
growth of the economy has slowed
large inequalities between urban and rural China
biggest greenhouse gas emitter
how are emerging power economically influential
their economic growth has powered the world economy, G20 countries account for 85% of world trade
how are emerging power environmentally influential
emerging powers have a critical role to play in tackling the climate crisis
how are emerging power politically influential
their economic importances enables them to form alliances and act as an influential group
what does the dependency theory show
rich depend on the poor to become more wealthy, with the periphery giving raw materials and political support and gaining polluting industries and aid
problems with the dependency theory
static theory as countries can move from the periphery to the core, so does not address the changing patterns of power currently
what does the world systems theory show
shows how countries can move through the peripheries to the ‘core’
problems with the world systems theory
world economies are more complex to separate and the theory doesn’t explain why
what does the modernisation model show
what a country has to go through to become a superpower, through exploiting its resources
what is the IMF
promote global financial stability, fund to help struggling countries
how do superpowers benefit from the IMF
investment in find is proportional to voting rights
how is the IMF disadvantageous for developing countries
sometimes force countries to cut spending to pay back loan
in Jordan there have been riots due to tax-rises to pay back loan
what is the world bank (WB)
address the affects of natural disasters and help finance development, investment is proportional to voting
how is the WB disadvantageous for developing countries
can lead to environmental damage and be very costly
what is the WTO
aims to free up global trade and reduce barriers, to have free trade without gov intervention. one country=one vote
how do superpowers benefit from the WTO
no votes have ever been taken, only bargaining and mutual agreements, which heavily favours EU+US
how is the WTO disadvantageous for developing countries
cheaper imports can undercut local farmers who are then forced out of business
such as local fisheries in Pakistan
what is WEF
brings leaders together, such as CEOs and politicians, to solve international problems
how do superpowers benefit from WEF
decisions are made by the wealthiest
how is the WEF disadvantageous for developing countries
lots of protests when this occurs, over climate change and environmental damage
how much trade are TNCs involved in
80%
why are pharmaceutical products so expensive for developing countries
because patents protect the large amounts of research and development done by TNCs. the high cost for r+d means TNCs make people pay to use their drug discoveries, often this fee is very high
what is the importance of media TNCs
they have huge cultural influence and the top 5 biggest media companies in 2016 were all US TNCs
form of soft power
how does westernisation affect economic influence
westernisation follows the beliefs of capitalism, so as a country is culturally influenced by the west there is an increasing chance the area will move away from communism and a planned economy
example of superpowers preventing conflict
US being significantly involved in the middle east without UN support
how are superpowers dealing with climate change mitigation
currently not key players in responses, with US + China being the biggest emitters, they often argue at conferences over who should act first
example of superpowers responding to crisis
the humanitarian response in Haiti 2010, the US was the biggest player and their assistance was crucial
example of an economic alliance
EU: a single market of 500 million, where most goods, people and money can move freely (NAFTA)
example of military alliance
NATO: the alliance of 29 countries, if one country is threatened then the other countries will come to its aid (ANZUS)
example of environmental alliance
IPCC: representatives of 194 countries governments meet to agree the wording of a report regarding climate change research
what is the purpose on the UN
to maintain peace, promote human rights and social + economic development
problems with the UN security council
accused of passing resolutions condemning a country, but then failing to prevent their actions
how has the growth of superpowers occured
rapid rates of industrialisation and urbanisation, which requires lots of energy and raw materials
how much did the global middle class grow between 2000 and 2014
by 500 million
what problems are there with water an regional superpowers
regional superpowers dominate water use in many areas at the expense of other countries with less influence
between 2000-2015 how much has the demand for fish increased
96%
what happened in the following years after the Paris agreement
carbon emissions increased by 1.7% in 2017 and 2.7% in 2018
what are Indias responses to climate
emerged as a global leader in climate change, investing more in them than fossil fuels
how much have the UK reduced emissions by
44% between 1990-2018, even though the economy grew
is the UK doing enough
the governments own committee for climate change has advised the country is lagging behind many of its long-term goals
how does China investing in renewables affect the rest of the world
as China invests more, to reach its net zero target in 2060, prices will begin to fall
what is the USA doing in response to climate change
investing in agriculture to store carbon in soils, making electric vehicles and building green hydrogen plants
what is causing recent military and political tensions over Arctic oil and gas
the increasing accessible mineral wealth between routes and the opening of new transport routes
due to climate change thawing more each summer
why is there a trade war between US and China
5-10% of trade is through counterfeit goods, the US claims that China is the biggest provider of these goods to the EU (breaking WTO rules)
result is putting higher tariffs on each other, affecting many industries
why is Chinas claims over the south China sea so significant
10% of the world fisheries
30% of world trade passes through
China have ignored the UN policy of the EEZ
why is Russia invading Ukraine
claims Ukraine should not be independent as it was formally part of the soviet union
sees Ukraine joining NATO has a threat
how do relationships between superpowers and developing countries work
unfair terms of trade- cheap exports for the developing world vs expensive manufactured imports
the brain drain of skilled workers from developing to boost developed economies
what are the positive impacts of China and Africas relationship
China is now Africas biggest trading partner, 2015 trade=160 billion
created jobs, increased GDP as well as investment in infrastructure
challenges of China and Africa relationship
African companies out of business
environmental costs
countries without natural resources are left behind
exampled of conflict in Asia due to emerging economic importance
China and Hong Kong
China and India
how has India reacted to Chinas growing influence in the region
strengthening relations with neighbouring countries
economic tensions in the middle east
region contains 60% of proven oil reserve
often armed conflict is due to fears over energy pathways, effecting the global price of oil
often superpowers will be involved to secure oil supplies for itself and its allies
political tensions in the middle east
Afghanistan have had unstable government since the soviet union, they are viewed suspiciously by the west, now ruled by the Taliban
water tensions in the middle east
some countries, such as Jordan, are facing severe water shortages
tensions are highest where water sources are shared (Syria and Iraq)
cultural tensions in the middle east
most muslim countries are hostile towards the Jewish state of Israel
how is debt impacting the USA and the EU after the 2008 global recession
reducing public spending to reduce public debt, which could reach levels that worry investors which could cut FDI
what are the social costs to the economic challenges in the EU + US
cuts in public spending= increased crime rates and reduced social cohesion (rise in nationalist groups)
what are the challenges of the economic restructuring in the EU+US
though job losses were replaced by service jobs, some communities were left behind increasing pressure of the EU and led to the rise of populist politicians (Trump)
how have populist politicians led to inequality in the US
policies have increased inequalities by providing tax breaks for the richest while making conditions difficult for the poorest
+ and - of navy for maintaining power
+ allows countries to protect military dominance
- advances mean aircraft carriers are vulnerable
+ and - of intelligence services for maintaining power
+ helps protect from threats i.e. terrorists
- volume of data intercepted is more than can be processed
+ and - of space exploration for maintaining power
+ the space race accelerated innovation in computing, science and technology
- money could be spent elsewhere (reducing enviro degradation)
+ and - of air power for maintaining power
+ allows a superpower to dominate air space
- drones are cheap so air dominance is made difficult
+ and - of nuclear weapons for maintaining power
+ deter countries from attacking each other, due to the chance of nuclear retaliation
- expensive, UKs nuclear trident system would cost 100 billion to replace
how would the US hegemony continue
China faces similar crash to Japan in 1997
how would a multi-polar world form
emerging powers continue to grow, creating broadly equal powers with only regional influence
how would a bi-polar world form
China becomes equal power to the US, nations align with one or the other
how would an Asia uni-polar world form
economic, social and political problems reduce the power of the EU and USA= power shift to Asia
who were the players involved in stopping Irans nuclear programme
USA applied first sanction
but only when sanctions applied by IGOs (UN and EU) the programme was ended
who were the players involved in the Bosnian war
NATO enforced no-fly zones
UN peacekeepers established safe zones
IGOs biggest players
who were the players involved in the ebola epidemic
response was led by NGOs
superpowers (usa and uk) were crucial in stopping spread of disease, both NGOs and countries worked well together
