Superpowers Flashcards
- Define superpower.
A nation with the ability to project its influence anywhere in the world and be a dominant global force.
How is power distributed globally?
It is uneven. Some nations/people have a disproportionate influence over decision making with others having limited influence.
Nations can gain and lose power over time.
How could a countries size contribute to it becoming a superpower?
Countries with large land area are important because they usually have greater natural resources and multiple neighbouring countries.
E.G. Russia is the worlds largest country and has large amounts of natural resources and has 14 neighbouring countries.
How could a countries military power contribute to it becoming a superpower?
Countries with a large military can be seen as more powerful (e.g. India or China), however the type and amount of weapons owned is also a show of power (e.g. only 9 countries possess nuclear weapons)
Military can also be a bargaining chip and can be used to achieve geopolitical goals (e.g. removal of Saddam Hussein from power in Iraq in 2003)
How could a countries economy contribute to it becoming a superpower?
Countries with the largest economies have a significant global influence (e.g. USA, China, UK, India, Russia)
The top 12 largest economies earn 2/3 of the worlds GDP, control investment, use the worlds most powerful currencies and determine economic policies.
It is often described as the prerequisite for power.
How could a countries population size contribute to it becoming a superpower?
They encourage economic growth through markets (e.g. EU)
Cheaper workers can promote economic growth (e.g. China & India)
Can support large militaries (e.g. China & India)
However some countries (e.g. Singapore) have been able to promote significant economic growth without a large population.
How could a countries resource availability contribute to it becoming a superpower?
Countries with natural recourses necessary for economic development should hold significant power (e.g. Russia – gas; Middle East – oil; China – rare earth minerals)
However they may not be due to exporting raw materials adding little value (e.g. Australia) or because TNCs control a large volume of resources (e.g. Shell)
How could a countries culture contribute to it becoming a superpower?
Spread of culture is a soft influence.
Europe and USA export their cultural ideals around the world (Westernisation) shown by how well known TNC logos are (e.g. McDonalds serves 65m customers daily)
- Was 1800-1919 a unipolar, bipolar or multipolar era?
Unipolar -> British Empire
Was 1919-1939 a unipolar, bipolar or multipolar era?
Multipolar -> UK, USA, Japan, USSR
Was 1945-1990 a unipolar, bipolar or multipolar era?
Bipolar -> USA, USSR
Is 1990-present a unipolar, bipolar or multipolar era?
Depends who you ask
Unipolar -> USA
Bipolar -> USA & EU or USA & China
Multipolar -> USA, EU & BRICS
Define hard power.
Power through force or coercion, likely to involve military or economic sanctions.
Define soft power.
Exerting influence through favour or persuasion, likely to involve cultural power (aka making countries follow your lead due to attractive and appealing policies.
Define geo-strategic policies.
Using geography to achieve political goals such as control of raw materials like oil.
What was Mackinder’s Heartland Theory?
Whoever ruled the heartland would control the landmasses of Europe and Russia and this influence would allow them to control the world.
What are the strengths of Mackinder’s Heartland Theory?
- Lots of powerful countries in/near the Heartland
- Peripheral countries like Australia and African countries
- Nai Germany believed it
- Russia is trying to take over Ukraine
What are the weaknesses of Mackinder’s Heartland Theory?
- USA is the largest superpower today but is no where near heartland
- Doesn’t take in account globalisation
How relevant was Mackinder’s Heartland Theory in history?
- British Empire wanted to secure strategic areas of land
- Nazi Germany believed that occupying other countries was a logical and vital way to ensure Lebensraum, or ‘living space’.
- After World War Two, the USA adopted a policy of containment of the USSR and China in order to try to limit the spread of communism.
How relevant is Mackinder’s Heartland Theory in today?
- NATO continues the US policy of containment today in eastern Europe against Russia.
- Russia annexed Crimea in 2014 from Ukraine and invaded Ukraine in 2022.
- China expanding its military and building artificial islands in the South China Sea.
Which year was Mackinder’s Heartland Theory created?
1904 (old, outdated?)
- Define a unipolar world.
A world dominated by one superpower (or hyperpower)
E.g. 1850-1919 British Empire
Define a bipolar world.
World divided by two opposing power blocs.
E.g. 1945-1991 Cold War (USA vs. USSR)
Define a multipolar world.
Numerous relationships between more or less equally powerful states.
E.g. 1919-1939 Inter-war era
UK, France, Germany, USA, Italy, Japan, USSR
What percentage of the world’s population and land did the British Empire control at its peak?
25% population and 25% land area.
In 1914, which country had the largest navy?
Britain -> twice as big as the next largest (Germany)
Why did the British Empire develop?
- to obtain raw materials
- to secure trade routes and markets
- to extend political power and beliefs
How did the British Empire maintain and extend its power?
Via direct control.
What happened in the colonies was largely determined by the colonial power and enforced by military might.
Define direct control.
Where there is political and perhaps military control of another country.
What continent was most colonial powers from?
Europe
What country is the case study for direct control?
Colonised India under the British Empire
When did Britain take direct control of India?
1858
What was the main exports from colonised India?
Tea, spices and opium.
What other South East Asian countries did Britain rule?
Burma, Malaysia and Singapore
They expanded to them from bases in India.
What year was there an uprising against British influence in India?
1857
What policy did Britain use to rule India?
‘Divide and rule’ to maintain control which exacerbated religious and social tensions.
What year did India become independent from British rule?
1947 -> the first country to gain independence from Britain after WW2
What happened to the British Empire after WW2?
Britain was short on money after the war so couldn’t support the empire, they focused on post-war reconstruction at home.
- What are the ideals of capitalism?
Freedom, private ownership, democracy (elected leaders)
What are the ideals of communism?
Equality, public ownership, dictatorship
How did the USSR establish a buffer zone to protect them from future invasion?
By ensuring that communist governments were established in the Eastern European satellite states
What was the aim of the US policy of containment, and which President came up with the idea?
To prevent the spread of communism throughout Europe – Harry Truman
What was the Marshall Plan?
A programme of financial aid to boost economies and prevent them from becoming communist
What created the threat of Mutually Assured Destruction (M.A.D.)?
The development of nuclear weapons by the USSR and threat of nuclear war
What were the military alliances formed by the US and its allies and the USSR and their allies?
NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organisation) and the Warsaw Pact
Give an example of a proxy (indirect) conflict between the two powers.
Korean War (1950), Vietnam War (1955-1975), Cuban Missile Crisis (1962)
What was the Cold War?
A conflict without fighting between the two superpowers, the USA (capitalist) and USSR (communist).
The USSR invaded collapsed Eastern European countries and enforced the communist regime, forming a buffer zone.
Many proxy wars but no direct conflict (Korean war 1950-53)
How did the Cold War end?
The USSR broke up in 1991 as its political system collapsed.
USA became the only superpower.
Why did the USSR collapse?
- In 1985 President Gorbachev introduced Glasnost and Perestroika.
- In late 1980s, the USSR was hit with economic failure and food storages
- In 1989-1991, Eastern European states rebelled against USSR and claimed sovereignty and became the FCCs (former communist countries)
What is Glasnost?
“freedom of speech”
What is Perestroika?
“private ownership of small businesses”
What happened in 1989 that started the rebelling of Eastern European countries?
The fall of the Berlin Wall
What is evidence of the USAs military power during the Cold War?
- Created NATO
- Had US nuclear weapons installed in ally countries (which were aimed at the USSR)
- Most technically advanced military
What is evidence of the USAs political power during the Cold War?
- Policy of containment
- IGOs like IMF and World Bank set up
What is evidence of the USAs economic power during the Cold War?
- Worlds largest economy from 1900
- US dollar is the most major currency
- The Marshall Plan
- Investment in India and SE Asia
What is evidence of the USAs cultural power during the Cold War?
- Media like Hollywood
- TNCs like Coca Cola
- Propaganda that was anti-communist and pro-capitalist
What is evidence of the USSRs military power during the Cold War?
- Created the buffer zone
- The Warsaw Pact
- Arms Race
What is evidence of the USSRs political power during the Cold War?
- Indirectly ruled the Eastern European countries
- Influences in Africa, Central and South America
What is evidence of the USSRs economic power during the Cold War?
- Second largest economy by 1941
- Industrial production under Stalin increased dramatically
- Comecon
What is evidence of the USSRs cultural power during the Cold War?
- Communist propaganda showed capitalism as evil
- Censorship
What is neo-colonialism?
A situation where wealthy former colonial powers control the world economy in a way where they benefit and less wealthy former colonies lose out.
How do former colonial powers still control ex-colonies through neocolonialism?
Wealthy countries buy raw materials for low prices from former colonies and sell them back as manufactured goods at a high price
Wealthy countries control investment, loans and aid
Economic control instead of direct control
Which country is the neo-colonialism case study?
Ghana
When did Ghana gain independence from British direct colonial rule?
1957
Name 2 emerging country groupings.
- BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa)
- Asian Tigers (Taiwan, Hong Kong, South Korea, Singapore)
- MINTs (Mexico, Indonesia, Nigeria, Turkey)
Who coined the acronym BRIC and when?
Jim O’Neill in 2001
What does BRIC stand for?
Brazil, Russia, India, China
When was the first BRIC summit?
2009
When did South Africa join the BRICS?
2010
What proportion of the world’s population do BRICS countries account for?
45%
What % of the world’s GDP do the BRICS countries account for?
37%
Name one of the three issues that the BRICS countries are working together to tackle.
Climate Change, UN Security Council Reform, Fighting Poverty
What is the aim of the BRICS International Development Bank?
To help emerging countries to develop by financing infrastructure and sustainable projects
Which two IGOs will the BRICS International Development Bank be an alternative to?
IMF and World Bank
