Superpowers Flashcards
What is a superpower?
A superpower is a country that has the capacity to exert power and influence across the globe.
What are the 6 pillars of superpower status?
- Economic power
- Millitary power
- Political
- Cultural
- Demographic
- Access to natural resources
Why is economic power important? Give examples
Economic power is an enabler of soft and hard power. A strong economy allows a country to control trade (China was responsible for 20% of industrial exportss in 2020), and thus have immense influence over other countries economy’s who may rely on them. Large economies give the most aid, so can influence a countries policy through that. Economic power is the most important as it is an enabler of all other factors, for instance investment into militaristic strength.
Why is Political power important?
A politically influential country is able influence countries to suit their desires, ideologies and geopolitical objectives. They will have a stronger voice in IOs, and therefore will be seen as leaders in times of global crisis.
Why is Millitary power important?
Acts as a source of hard and soft power, Can be used in timesof conflict to spread ideology and protect itself, especiallly if it has ablue water navy compared to a green water navy. It can also be used in UN peace keeping missions, a sign of soft power and international influence
Why are demographic factors important?
A large population increases the long run productive capacity of an economy, and is often the spur of economic growth. It gives the country a large supply of labour, aswell as also creating a large domestic market. However, as we will come to later, the age structure of the countries is also immportant.
Why are cultural factors important?
Increased globalisation has brought about with it cultural diffusion via multi media TNCs. A country will be more sympathetic to another, and therefore more easily influenced, if it sharres common values
Why are natural resources important? Why doees it not always gurantee development?
Access to natural resources can spur economic development both through domestic use (as was the case for Britain) or through exports (like Qatar). It means the country is not reliant on unreliable external factors. However, as the case for Shell in Nigeria, sometimes developing countries are exploited by TNCs and economic leakage occures.
What is soft power? Who popularised it?
Soft power is a countries power of persuasion, using culture, foreign policy and ideology to exert influence non coercively.
It was created by Joseph Nye in 1990
What is hard power?
Ability to assert dominance through force
