Superpowers Flashcards
Superpower criteria
HYPERPOWER: is a lone superpower
EMERGING: have a large, growing economy, military + political influence
REGIONAL: big influence at continental but not global scale
CRITERIA= •size, pop, resources, economic strength, military strength
How superpower can exert authority
ECON: money is needed to invest in military+develop society
POLITICAL: ability to have power within org such as UN + WTO
CULTURAL: appeal of a country’s ways of life and ideologies
RESOURCES: possession of fossil fuels, minerals + land can generate econ + geopolitical power
How superpower can maintain power
HARD= military action, creating of economy, use of economic sanctions
ECON=Econ or development aid, signing favourable trade agreements to increase econ ties
SOFT=cultural attractiveness of a nation, values + ideologies of some nations being seen as attractive
Mackinder’s heartland theory
He named an area of Eurasia as ‘Heartland’
•He argues that it was a key geo-strategic location in the world because it commanded a huge portion of world’s physical + Human Resources
Unipolar
Bipolar
Multi-polar
UNI: one superpower has dominance
BIPOLAR: 2 superpowers with opposite ideologies compete for dominance e.g. USA + USSR
MULTI: many superpowers + emerging powers compete for dominance in different regions
Why do some countries not have fully control over themselves
Strategic alliance=military alliances between developing nations + superpowers make the developing nation dependant on military aid
AID= comes with strings attached to agree to certain policies
—>TNC investment=creates jobs + wealth
•Terms of Trade= low commodity export prices contrast with high prices for imported goods
NICs characteristics - Newly industrialised country
STRONG LEADERSHIP: necessary to guide the country to econ growth
LARGE POPS: big internal market + workforce
SUSTAINED + LARGE ECON GROWRH: econ will grow at high %
SHIFT FROM PRIMARY TO 2NDARY: Manufactured goods generate more wealth than primary
PART OF TRADING BLOCS: ASEAN
STRONG EDUCATION SYSTEM: allows entrepreneurs
OPENNESS TO GLOB + FREE TRADE: allowing TNCs to come in + aid development
Dependency theory
- The development of the rich world was achieved by exploitation of the developing world
- The developing countries moved into production of cash crops (coffee, tea, cocoa) which meant that they were no longer subsistent and dependant of developed countries for food imports + food aid
- That the development for many countries were slowed or stopped by arrival of colonists. —> points out that many were richer before colonialism
World systems theory
1- the world economy has one market and a global division of labour
2-although the world has multiple states, almost everything takes place in context of world economy
3-The world economy has a 3-tide structure
CORE=controls world trade
SEMI P=urban areas with rural poverty
P=provide primary products for both semi-p and core
Inter-governmental orgs
IGOs= whose members are nation states. They uphold treaties/law and cooperate on issues like trade, human rights, econ policy
•IGO’s have helped bolster free trade + free market capitalism by promoting their values
Examples of IGOs
WTO=regulate global trade since 95’. They create agreements to promote open trade and reduce protectionism.
UN SECURITY COUNCIL=maintaining intrnl peace + security.
•Apply sanction to countries which are deemed to be a security risk
•Authorise use of military force against a country + peacekeeping
NATO=to safeguard freedom, common heritage + civilisation of members by promoting stability + well-being
•undertakes crisis management
THE UN= (1945) aim to international peace + security maintenance. Does this by working to prevent conflict, protect human rights, humanitarian aid, promote sustainable development
China emissions factfile
- 2014-was responsible for 29% of global carbon emissions
- 7/10 most polluted cities
- In 2007, China produced 6200m tonnes of CO2, with Britain producing 600m
- By 2020, China will have reduced dependence on coal by 64% to 58%
Kyoto protocol
Sets binding emission reduction targets
•reduce GHG by 5.2% below 1990 level by 2012
