Superpowers Flashcards
What is a superpower?
Country with the ability to project its power and influence anywhere in the world
What is a emerging power?
A country with the potential to become a superpower as its influence grows
WTO (World trade organisation) function:
Organisation regulates world trade and encourages countries to remove or tariffs on trade
IMF (international monetary fund) function:
Aims to create a more stable global economy, providing financial assistance to developing nations
World Bank function:
Loans money to developing nations for development purposes, investing in their domestic industries
Case study of hard power (use of military):
USA during the Iraq War and Russia invasion of Ukraine in 2022
Case study of hard power (economic sanctions):
Sanctions to Russia in 2022 for example the US and UK banned Russian imports including oil and natural gas, oligarchs in London were also affected, Abramovich the former Chelsea owner being one of them
What is soft power?
Where a country expresses its influence through culture, politics or trade
For example France with its rich culture, as well as being involved in many IGOs, a big one being the EU
Heartland theory (1900s) explained:
Geographer Mackinder believed whoever controlled Europe and Asia would control the world.
According to that theory Russia would be the global power, however certain things could harm Russia’s power like:
.Many bordering nations so can be attacked from many directions
.Much of its coast is frozen during winter, has few year round ports
Economic influence by USA after WW2:
Marshall plan, programme of financial aid to help rebuild Western Europe countries that were damaged by the war
There was also investment into countries such as Japan and Singapore to promote economic growth and prevent spread of communism
Ways that growth of superpowers can cause environment degradation:
-Deforestation
-Increase of carbon emissions by factories and vehicles
-Dams for HEP
Ways that growth of superpowers can benefit the environment:
-Reduction of non renewable source usage for energy
-Investment in alternatives for cleaner energy (e.g. in 2022 China generated 46% more wind energy than all of Europe, the 2nd largest wind energy user)
Rise of China:
In recent years China has experienced significant economic growth, so significant the US is now reliant on its manufactured goods.
China is also seeking global influence through investment in its military and expansion of operations to Africa
China in Africa:
Increase for demand of resources has led to China importing resources from Africa such as oil from Nigeria, by 2015 China had become Africa’s largest trading partner.
Africa has benefitted, development in mining and agriculture industries to guarantee supplies, banking and IT to create secure financial systems
Infrastructure investment (building of schools, hospitals, and trained 40000 African personnel)
Environmental impacts of China investment in Africa:
-Illegal deforestation in Mozambique
-Oil spills in Sudan and Angola
-Forest loss and river pollution from mining in DRC
Growth of a power leading to geopolitical tensions (China):
Taiwan:
Territorial claims of this region has led to tension, after Chinese civil war in 1949 both Taiwan and China considered themselves the legitimate Chinese government, no agreement reached
Japan:
Post world war 2 the heavy investment of USA into Japan increased tension as they went on to adapt to a capitalist, western like economic recovery
India:
India is suspicious of China’s good relationship with Pakistan and China is concerned about India’s military interest in the South China Sea
Tensions over territory:
(South China Sea)
Building of artificial islands such as Spratly islands to extend its territorial claims
Establishment of military bases to defend itself against neighboring countries against this approach such as Vietnam
US and its allies worried about this development, however China is using this military presence to help against piracy.
Tensions over resources:
(Arctic region)
Several national claims to large parts of the Arctic, said that the region contains 1/8th of world’s untapped oil and 1/4 of its gas.
EEZs (200 nautical miles offshore) are disputed there which has led to political and military tensions (e.g. Canada has carried out military exercises in Arctic since 2002)
Difference between the economic alliances EU and NAFTA:
There is no free movement of people in NAFTA
Environmental alliance:
(IPCC)
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) produces reports every 5 to 7 years which support the main international treaty on climate change
3 development theories to explain the patterns of power:
1)Rostow’s Modernisation theory
2)Frank’s Dependency theory (Core and Periphery)
3)Wallerstein world systems theory
Difference between dependency theory and the world systems theory:
The world systems theory expanded the dependency theory to include the semi-periphery, made up of emerging nations
Players in international decision making:
Haiti 2016:
Hurricane Matthew which destroyed several thousand homes, 350 000 Haitians needed aid.
USA and France provided 550 personnel
NGOs (e.g. British red cross) launched appeals for $7 million
Afghanistan after 9/11:
US launched coalition troops to help against the supreme groups such as Taliban, killing militant leaders like Bin Laden and helping ease off rules on women’s dress and schooling
Brazil (emerging power) facts:
Positives:
.Important in South America as it produces half the GDP, has huge natural resources and is self sufficient for food and energy
.Young population (median age of 31)
.Culturally rich, e.g. famous for its football and Rio Carnaval
.Amazon rainforest supports global initiatives against climate change, also has no enemies with little military activity
Negatives:
.Lots of environmental damage such as pollution from mining and deforestation for cattle ranching
.Least significant military out of BRICs, only capable of handling regional affairs
.Politically unstable, corruption occurs
Russia (emerging power) facts:
Positives:
.Strong military power and has nuclear weapons
.Significant oil and gas supplies
.Growing economic and political links to Asia (particularly with China)
Negatives:
.Ageing and declining population
.Difficult relationship with USA and Europe
.Limited amount of cultural influence
India (emerging power) facts:
Positives:
.Young population (66.2% of population is aged from 15-64)
.Culturally rich, Bollywood is world’s largest film industry
.Huge economic potential, English speaking education system and growing middle class
.Nuclear weapons
Negatives:
.High levels of poverty, as well as slums accumulating in urban areas
.Poor infrastructure (transport, water and energy), long way behind China
.World’s worst environmental problems, seriously polluted
China (emerging power) facts:
Positives:
.Large and increasingly educated workforce
.Growing military that possesses nuclear weapons
.Investing in infrastructure projects to increase trade to the rest of the world
Negatives:
.Ageing population due to one child policy
.Reliant on importing raw materials (e.g. oil, iron ore and soya)
.Major air and water pollution from industries
Problems experienced by superpowers:
1)Ageing population, in 2021 21% of the EU population were aged 65 and above
2)Struggle to attract investment, US and EU have high rent prices and wages so investment more common in Africa and Asia
3)Deindustrialization, economic decline of Detroit in US
4)Reliant in migrant labour in some sectors of work, in future if they’re tempted to move to Emerging countries that will lead to labour shortages in certain sectors of existing superpowers (e.g. the health and social care in Germany)
Reasons that emerging powers might overtake existing powers:
1)US and EU are becoming increasingly energy insecure
2)Emerging powers have larger youthful populations, governments don’t spend as much on things like pensions and disability allowances, more money spent on working population
