Superpowers Flashcards
What are the 5 pillars of superpower status?
Economic, a large economy enables a nation to control trade. Also allows investment into other pillars
Military, used in threatening other nations
Political & Ideology, allows influence to spread to other countries
Cultural, spread of cultural values on other can align a populations ideologies with the superpowers culture. E.g Westernisation due to media such as Disney etc.
Resources, Humans and Physical resources
How do Hard and Soft power differ?
Hard power, uses military/direct political intervention to change or influence the behaviour of other countries.
Soft power, uses various methods to attract countries, e.g FDI
Why may Mackinder’s Heartland theory be flawed today?
As technology has advanced and made transportation easier the shrinking world has reduced the locational importance of the Heartland. Resources can easily be transported around the world, advances in military technology means armies can have more global influence without needing to colonise other nations. This has allowed nations such as America, which is on the exterior of the Heartland, to take over centre stage as a global Superpower.
What is Mackinder’s Heartland theory?
Theoretically, whoever owns the “Heartland” which is based around Russia, Eastern Europe, South East Asia… would control the largest number of physical and Human Resources.
In the World System Theory, how do core regions exploit periphery countries, then VS now?
Then: In the past relationships between the core and periphery were purely exploitative (colonialism) and the periphery was forced to provide their natural resources through means of hard power such as military force or occupation. For example, the British Empire’s exploitation of India for natural resources.
Now: Relationship centres around trade agreements (soft power) which often benefit the core regions more than they benefit the periphery. These trade agreements often favour the core nations.
Explain the Modernisation Theories 5 stages
Traditional Society - The country’s economy is based predominantly on primary industry - agriculture
Pre-conditions for Take Off - There is a demand for raw materials and trade by external countries. A rise in construction of infrastructure will lead to an increase in businesses and FDI.
Take Off - Here there is rapid Industrialisation, creating a large surge of employment opportunities and productivity. Take-off can also be a period of environmental degradation, as the nation lacks laws to protect its natural surroundings and people from exploitation.
Drive to Maturity - Over a period of time, the growing economy will encourage new industries and investment, creating further jobs, improving services through increased tax. This is a positive feedback mechanism of gradually improving living conditions.
High Mass Consumption - Developed countries, in Rostow’s opinion, are countries who are capitalistic and consumers hold the most valuable opinion. Often goods are catered towards these markets, as families have disposable income to spend.
What type of polarity world are we currently in?
Unipolar, USA dominates the world currently…
In the past, British Empire was also a unipolar world
Explain the British Raj and what happened in India
