Superpowers Flashcards
What is a Hegemon/Hyperpower?
A country that dominates all others in terms of political, military, economic, cultural power and resources
What are the 4 pillars and the foundation to be a superpower?
Military, Political, Cultural, Resources and Economic
What are ways military power can be used?
Direct force/conflict such as invasion, or threat of such action
What is a Blue water and Green water navy?
Blue water navy is capable of global influence, Green water navy is capable of regional influence
What are the 3 dominant superpowers currently?
USA, China, Eu
What is Hard/Soft power?
Hard power is direct force, Soft power is freedom of choice and letting people decide who they like
Examples of Hard power?
British empire owning 25% of land and 20% of the population, Russias annexation of Crimea
Examples of Soft power?
Americanisation spread to almost all countries and 53/100 top global brands are from the US, British culture affects many countries like the Commonwealth
What are the Patterns of Power?
Unipolar, Bipolar and Multipolar
What is a Unipolar pattern of power?
When 1 hyperpower dominates all others in superpower status (e.g British Empire)
What is a Bipolar pattern of power?
When 2 competing superpowers with opposing ideologies are against eachother (e.g USSR vs USA)
What is a Multipolar pattern of power?
Many superpowers compete for power in different regions (e.g Italy, Germany, France, Japan, etc)
What was the dominant power between 1700s and 1920 and why?
British empire (Unipolar) owned 25% of land, 20% of population and had over 50 colonies, Royal navy was the most powerful in the world was how they kept their power
1920-1939 What happens?
Multipolar world as Japans imperialism too , hitler’s rise of power, British empire loses dominance, USA rapidly grows
1940-1990 What happens?
USA vs USSR were superpowers with opposing ideologies (Bipolar) which started the cold war and many proxy wars like the Vietnam war and Korean war
