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