Superpowers Flashcards
What is the current budget of the United States military? By how much has President Trump pledged to increase this budget?
$596bn currently + $54bn pledge increase by Trump
What new military technology has been introduced by the US? When was this introduced?
F-35 stealth fighters built by Lockheed Martin rolled out in August 2016.
How many countries have US military bases? Give a strategic example.
Military bases in 63 countries, for example United States Force Korea has over 28,500 personnel.
What is the current budget of the Chinese military?
$215bn
By how much did Xi Jinping pledge to increase Chinese military spending? When?
In 2016, Xi Jinping pledge to increase annual military spending by 7-8%.
What important historical battle cemented Britain’s unipolar dominance? How many British ships ere involved?
27 British Ships defeated Napoleonic forces in the 1805 Battle of Trafalgar.
When was Britain’s imperial century? How many people were added to the empire in this time?
1815-1914 with over 400 million people added to the empire
What is the current GDP of the United States?
$16.77 trillion
What is the PPP-adjusted GDP of China? Why is this important?
China has a PPP GDP of $19.8 trillion. This makes it the largest economy in the world.
Give example of a US transnational corporation taking direct control of foreign companies via an acquisition.
US multinational Kraft conducted an £11.5bn hostile takeover of Cadbury.
In February 2017, Kraft Heinz attempted to takeover Unilever - but failed.
Who is the largest M&A investor in Africa? What percentage of African mergers/acquisitions does this country make?
China is the largest M&A investor in Africa, accounting for 37% of all deals.
What percentage of Chinese investments in Africa are in the oil and mining sectors?
80%
Give an example of Chinese stakeholders acquiring assets/resources in Africa.
In 2017, China Molybdenum acquired the Tenke copper mine in the Congo for $2.65bn.
What was the peak annual revenue of the East India Company? What products did it deal in?
7.6 million pounds per year, exploiting its state-backed monopoly to sell raw silk and cotton produced in India.
How many McDonalds outlets are there globally? How many countries does McDonalds operate in?
37,000 outlets across 118 countries
What percentage of Indians speak English?
12%
Describe, using a specific example, how Britain exerted its cultural influence via religion.
William Carey, an English Baptist, spread Anglicanism to India by establishing 19 mission states, 100 Christian schools (including Sepamore College in West Bengal). Carey also translated the bible into 34 local languages.
In 1859, how large was the royal navy?
1000 vessels
When was the Seven Years War? What were the consequences for British imperial dominance?
The Seven Years War between 1756 and 1763 forced France to cede Canada and all territory east of the Mississippi to Britain. Spain was forced to cede Florida.
In 2015, what China’s net balance of trade surplus? What was the figure in 2004?
In 2015, China’s trade surplus was $600bn - compared to just $32bn in 2004.
How has the Chinese government intervened to improve its trade dominance?
The Peoples Bank of China has consistently devalued its currency.
What evidence suggests that Germany is a potential trade superpower?
It was the world’s third largest exporter in 2016. Exports account for 41% of its national output. It produces 6 million vehicles domestically, a a further 5.5m vehicles in FDI operations abroad.
How did Britain use mercantilism to maintain its superpower status?
Britain imposed heavy tariffs on manufactured goods, allowing it to import low value products (sugar from West Indies, cotton from American South) whilst export high value products.
In 1850, 30% of all manufactured goods were produced in Britain.
How does Britain continue to exert influence on its former colonies?
The 52-member Commonwealth of Nations allows Britain to exert soft influence. For example, in the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.
How has Britain exerted soft cultural influence in recent times?
The 1990s ‘Cool Britannia’ movement attempted to establish global admiration for British culture. This was seen in Britpop bands such as the Spice Girls.
Describe, briefly, how the power structure of the world has changed over time?
The world was multipolar in the Age of Discovery (1500s, 1600s, and 1700s) with European powers competing for global influence.
From 1815-1914, the world was unipolar under the dominance of the British Empire.
The world became multipolar again in the post-WW2 Cold War era.
The world became unipolar after the collapse of the Soviet Union.
The world is again entering a multipolar phase with the rise of BRICs.
Describe the mercantile system of ‘triangular trade’.
- Sugar, tobacco and cotton imported from colonies back to Britain.
- Britain processed raw materials into finished goods. These goods were sold to purchase slaves in Africa.
- Slaves were then sold in the Americas for use in cotton/sugar production.
In the 1760s, how many slaves were transported across the Middle Passage?
42,000 annually
When did Britain abandon mercantilism? What was the new policy?
Britain abandoned mercantilism in 1840 - opting for a new ‘free trade’ approach.
In 1922, what percentage of global exports were produced in Britain?
30%
How many British servicemen died in WW1? How many civilians died?
745,000 servicemen and 24,000 civilians.
When did India gain its independence?
1947
What was the UK’s debt to GDP ratio following WW2?
200%
What was the Brezhnev Doctrine?
Soviet Union has right to invade by force any country which abandons Marxism-Leninism.
Give an example of the Brezhnev Doctrine in practice?
250,000 Soviet Union troops invaded Czechoslovakia in 1968 in response to the Prague Spring.
How did the Soviet Union spread its influence indirectly by supporting North Vietnam?
It provided 200 tanks, 700 artillery guns, and $450m in arm shipments.
How did the Soviet Union spread its influence via Cominform?
Stalinist institution controlled parties including French Communist Party and Italian Communist Party. Maintained grip on communist satellite states.
