Superpowers

Question 1

What is a superpower?

Answer 1

A nation/group of nations with leading position in international politics

Question 2

What are economic characteristics of superpowers?

Answer 2

High GDP, heavy influence over global trade

Question 3

What are political characteristics of superpowers?

Answer 3

Permanent seats on UN Security Council together with powerful allies, many multicultural agreements

Question 4

What are military characteristics of superpowers?

Answer 4

High expenditure, large amount of hardware including nuclear weapons

Question 5

What are cultural characteristics of superpowers?

Answer 5

Rich cultural history

Question 6

What are demographic characteristics of superpowers?

Answer 6

Significant percentage of global population, attract skilled migrants

Question 7

What access to service do superpowers have?

Answer 7

Able to export and control commodities such as oil

Question 8

What is USA’s GDP compared to China’s?

Answer 8

$53,000 is USA compared to China’s $6000

Question 9

What is hard power?

Answer 9

The ability of a country/group of countries to use military force or direct economic influence to make another country accept and situation or idea

Question 10

What is soft power?

Answer 10

The ability of a country/group of countries to persuade other countries to agree to a situation or idea by attracting them

Question 11

How can superpowers maintain power through history?

Answer 11

The British common-law legal approach where judges decide the outcome of cases, has been widely modellers around the world

Question 12

How can superpowers maintain power through culture?

Answer 12

The BBC is a major international broadcaster and besides a rich literacy, artistic and musical legacy, English is the most widely spoken language after Mandarin

Question 13

How can superpowers maintain power through economic power?

Answer 13

The USA remains the largest trading partner for many countries, exporting high value goods (military aircraft) and global brands (apple)

Question 14

How can superpowers maintain power through military power?

Answer 14

The USA exercised hard power by confronting the Taliban and the death of Osama bin Laden

Question 15

What does unipolar mean?

Answer 15

A distribution of power in which one state exercises most of the cultural, economic and military influence (British empire)

Question 16

What is neo-colonialism?

Answer 16

The use of investment, trade and culture to influence independent countries instead of direct governance (soft power tactics)

Question 17

What does the USA represent?

Answer 17

Capitalism, free market and manifest density

Question 18

What does the USSR represent?

Answer 18

Communism, Marxism and control all means of production

Question 19

What did the US economy grow by in 1992-1999?

Answer 19

grew by an average of 4% per year between 1992-1999

Question 20

In 1992 what did the unemployment rate drop from?

Answer 20

8% -4%

Question 21

What was Mackinders geographical pivot theory?

Answer 21

At the centre of the world island was the heartland-the pivot area which contained 50% of the worlds resources
Controlling this area secured control of the world island and in turn the rest of the world

Question 22

How can superpowers cause environmental degradation?

Answer 22

Landscape scarring, built environment, oil spills and removal of forests

Question 23

What is landscape scarring?

Answer 23

Mining removes vegetation and scars the landscape, air and noise pollution, extraction of minerals require chemicals which contaminate groundwater

Question 24

What is the built environment cause?

Answer 24

Coal used in power stations, increased car ownership means greater oil consumed, industrial chimneys may emit pollutants causing acid rain
In 2003, more than 250 Chinese cities were affected by acid rain

Question 25

What do oil spills cause?

Answer 25

BP’s oil rig exploded causing 450 million litres escaped, chemicals used to reduce oil slick damage marine and wildlife

Question 26

What can the removal of forests cause?

Answer 26

Brazil’s food production increased by 26% between 2002-2012, forests cleared and converted to cropland, agriculture causes 8-18% of global GHG’s when deforestation occurs

Question 27

What are barriers to willingness to act?

Answer 27

Consumerist lifestyle, politics, disagreement of solutions, big businesses and TNC’s

Question 28

Increasing wealth is emerging countries has increased demand for…

Answer 28

Rare earth elements, food supply and water supply