Superpowers Flashcards
What is the hegemon
a supreme power that is dominant over many geographically distant countries
What is a regional power
a country with a dominant influence over countries in the same geographical region
what is an emerging power
a country with increasing power and potential to become a superpower
what is an economic superpower
a country with influence over the global economy
what are measures of dominance
strategies used by a country to project its influence: usually through economics, military, and culture
How can superpowers be measured
- size and power of the economy
- political and military power
- cultural influence
- population demographics
- abundance and access of natural reosurce
- geostrategic location
what is a superpower
a nation with the means to project its power and influence anywhere in the world, and be a dominant global force
what is a hyperpower
an unchallenged superpower that is dominant globally
What is sharp power
the use of manipulative diplomatic policies to influence and undermine its targets political systems
What is economic power
having influence through economic dominance or investment in certain areas
what is the Heartland Theory
a key geostrategic region of Eurasia from Russia to China which would grant control of most of the globes human and physical resources
what is imperialism
the aquisition by a government of another government or territories, or of economic or cultural power over other nations or territories, often by force
what is colonialism
the policy or practice of acquiring full or partial political control over another country, occupying it with settlers, and expoliting it economically
what is direct control
where there is political and perhaps military control over another country
what is indirect control (neo-colonisalism)
the practice of using capitalism, globalisation, and cultural imperialism to influence one developing country in lieu of direct military control or indirect political control
what is neo-colonialism
when rich former colonial powers control the world economy in such a way that they benefit and the poor former colonies are exploited
how are strategic alliances a possible mechanism of neo-colonialism
military alliances between developing nations and superpowers make the developing nation dependent on military aid and equipment from the superpower
how is aid a possible mechanism of neo-colonialism
development aid comes with ‘strings attached’ (tied aid), forcing the recipient to agree to policies and spending priorities suggested by the donor
how is TNC investment a possible mechanism of neo-colonialism
investment from abroad may create jobs and wealth, but be dependent on the receiving country following ‘friendly’ policies
how is Terms of Trade a possible mechanism of neo-colonialism
low commodity export prices for imported goods from developed countries, inhibiting development
how is debt a possible mechanism of neo-colonialism
developing countries borrow money from developed ones, and then end up in a debtor=creditor relationship
what are other problems that exist in developing nations that mean that neo-colonialsim isn’t always to blame
- have their own internal political/religious/war issues that prevent investment and development
- many nations developed following independence
- corruption is present so finance can be diverted
what is the dependency theory
- core developed countries exist to exploit peripheral developing countries
- cores exist due to the exploitation of the periphery
what was the periphery (developing countires) the source of
- cheap raw materials
- skilled workers (causing brain drain)
- allies and debt repayment/interest
what did the periphery (developing countries) receive
- expensive manufactured goods
- pollution
- political and economic ideology
- aid
what does the core have to do to ensure the dependency theory’s system worked
maintain the periphery as under-developed
what are the problems with the dependency theory
- made before the wealth generation of the BRIC nations
- doesn’t take regions into account
- is a static system, not dynamic
- many emerging nations received aid
what is the World System’s Theory
like the dependency theory but countries can move between core, semi-periphery, and periphery
what does the World System’s Theory say about how nations are able to change their tier
- changes happen in (super)cycles
- every few centuries see a technological advantage in a nation that pushes its place
supercycle
a sustained period of economic expansion
what do economic supercycles produce
storng sustained demand for raw and manufacured materials that exceeds what commodity producers can supply
what is the modernization model
- countires needed to go through five stages of development
- countries further up the stages would have an advantage over countries further down
- Rostow thought capitalism was the only effective way to pass through the stages
- tried to explain why the British Empire was dominant over the USA
what stages comprise the Modernization model
- traditional society
- preconditions for take-off
- take-off
- driveto maturity
- age of high mass consumption
what are the problems with the modernization model
- doesn’t take loans, aid, and trade blocs/alliances into account
- China and India leapfrogged stages
- only explains the deveopment of big capitalist nations
what is happening in a traditional society (based on the modernization model)
static society with limited technology
what is happening during the pre-conditions for take-off (based on the modernization model)
the commercial exploration of agriculture and extractive industry
what is happening during the take-off (based on the modernization model)
the development of a manufacturing sector
what is happening during the drive to maturity (based on the modernization model)
the development of wider comercial and industrial bases
what triggers the transition between the traditional society and preconditions for take-off (based on the modernization model)
external influences like the interest of markets
what triggers the transition between the preconditions for take-off and take-off (based on the modernization model)
the installation of physical infrastructure and the emergence of a social and political elite
what triggers the transition between the take-off and drive to maturity (based on the modernization model)
- the investment in manufacturing exceeds 10% of national income
- the development of social, political and economic instiututions
what economic system has dominated since the end of the Cold War
free market capitalism
what is free market capitalism
- the private ownership of property and business
- wages are based on supply instead of demand and skill
- ahve the right to make a profit and accumulate wealth
- can buy and sell goods in a competative free market with limited restrictions
what is the alternative to free market capitalism
a centrally planned economy
what is a centrally planned economy
- stateowns land and property
- most businesses are state owned
- wages are determined centrally
- profits are taken from the government and used to provide public services
- prices are controlled by the government
- supply of goods and services are controlled by the government
what is the difference between publically traded and state owned TNC’s
- public=shares are owned by shareholders (other TNC’s, banks, large financial institutions)
- state=majority or wholly owned by the state
how do economies of scale aid TNC’s
outcompete and overtake smaller countries
how have TNC’s bank balance and ability to borrow money to invest allowed them to take advantage of globalisation
invest in new technology
how has the move towards free market capitalism and free trade benefited TNC’s
opened up new markets which allows expansion
how do TNC’s have a cultural impact
bring influence from their origin country
what is the impact on global consumers by TNC’s measure through
brand value
what comprises westernization
- culture of capitalism and the importance of attaining wealth, and consumerism
- white, Anglo-Saxon culture (lingua franca)
- a culture that cherry picks and adapts selective parts of other cultures and absorbs them
what is the UNCTAD
United Nations Conference on Trade and Global Development
what is a patent
the granting of the exclusive right of ownerships and possessions of intellectual property by a state to an inventor for a fixed period of time
who organises the global patent system
Trade Related aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) (part of WTO)
how do TNCs benefit from the global patent system
have a monopoly over the thing they patent
who doesn’t benefit from the global patent system
poor countries that are unable to afford the use of a patent
how do Superpowers positively affect global security by joining IGOs
- join military alliances (NATO)
- membershiup of UN security council=vote on intervention
- ICJ holds nations accountable
- joining economic alliances=security through economic integration
how do Superpowers negatively affect global security by joining IGOs
- IGOs aren’t very effective
- can act unilaterally
- can act against the wishes of those in alliances (veto)
what are sanctions
(usually economic) punishments placed on a nation or person by another (group of) nation(s)
how does the ICJ favour the West
- aligned with western laws
- extension of American laws into international law
what is the role of the International Criminal Court
holds leaders accountable
how does the UN Security Council favour Superpowers
- any one of the 5 permanent members can veto a decision
- USA, UK, France vs Russia, China
- condemns a nations actions but fails to act to prevent them
what are the security mechanisms of the UN security council
- apply sanctions to nations deemed to be a security risk, harbouring terrorism, threatening or invading another state, breaching human rights
- authorising military force against another nation
- authoirise Peacekeeping Force
how is the EU a mechanism for peace
economic reliance means it is silly to go to war with a nation you’re interdependent on
