Superpowers Flashcards
7.1a What is a superpower?
a country with the ability to projects its dominating power and influence anywhere in the world
7.1a What is an emerging power?
are countries with a large role in one of more superpower characteristics, and with growing influence.
7.1a What is a regional power?
can project dominating power and influence over other countries within the continent or region.
7.1a give an example of a regional power
Saudi Arabia -largest country in Middle East -oil industry - 16% of oil deposits -most highly funded military in the middle east $80bn
7.1a What is a hyper power?
an unchallenged superpower that is dominant in all aspects of power (political, economic, cultural, military)
7.1a What is a diplomacy?
the negotiation and decision-making that takes place between nations as part of international relations, leading to international agreements and treaties
7.1a What are the characteristics of a superpower?
- economic
- political
- military
- cultural
- demographic
- resources
7.1a What is economic power?
– It is essential for power. A large and powerful economy gives nations the wealth to build and maintain a powerful military, exploit natural resources and develop human ones through education.
7.1a What is military power?
– the threat of military action is powerful bargaining chip, also can be used to achieve geopolitical goals. Blue water navy, drone, missile and satellite technology can be deployed globally and reach distant places.
7.1a What is blue water navy?
One which can deploy into the open ocean (large, ocean-going ships) – many countries only have a green water navy designed to patrol littoral water (close to the nations coastline)
7.1a What is political power?
the ability to influence others through diplomacy to get their way is important and is exercised through international organisations such as UN and WTO.
7.1a What are the economic characteristics of a superpower?
- Large GDP, high % of international trade, currency used as reserve currency.
- A large GDP creates influence as a potential market and as the home of TNCs which create FDI.
7.1a What are the political characteristics of a superpower?
•The ability to influence the policies of other countries through the dominance of negotiations. (Both bilaterally and through international organisations.)
-Voting power may be determined by economic contribution, historical role in founding of organisation (UN), population
•Often due to dominance in other characteristics.
oE.g. large economy gives it power in trade talks, military power can make countries a threat - giving them political power
7.1a What are the military characteristics of a superpower?
- Military power with a global reach means they can be used to achieve geopolitical goals
- Global influence through blue water (ocean going) navy and drone, missile and satellite technology
- Indicators of power: army size, defence spending, nuclear weapons, inter-continental ballistic missiles (ICBMs), size of blue water navy, being a major arms exporter, presence on/leading international military organisations.
- Dependent on demographic power: the number of military personnel that can be deployed
- Dependent on economic power: budget determines investment in military technology, which increases power
7.1a What are the cultural characteristics of a superpower?
•The ability to influence the beliefs, values, ideology and way of life in other countries.
•Achieved through:
the dominance of media (films, radio, television, internet, education)
-TNCs or migrants introducing cultural products (food, clothing, music, religion)
-imposition of viewpoint in international agreements
-Indicators: global spread of music, fashion, food, language, religion
-Westernisation, Americanisation
7.1a What are the demographic characteristics of a superpower?
- A large population -> a large diaspora and workers at TNCs
- Assists economic power through a large market and economies of scale (so more profit).
- Means army can be larger.
- China has the largest population - 1382 million
7.1a What are the resources characteristics of a superpower?
- Control of access to physical resources: energy, minerals
- Provides inputs for economic growth
- Means they can be exported at a high price -> economic power
- May be internally located or accessed through reliable source countries through transport pathways.
- Essential for military power
7.1a What is the global presence index split into?
Economy, defence and soft presence (culture, media, migration, tourism)
7.1b What is hard power?
represents a coercive approach to international relations and employs the use of military or economic power to achieve certain outcomes.
-The underlying theme of Hard Power is coercion and states use such power to influence weaker states to comply with their will.
7.1b What does hard power include?
- military intervention or protection, economic sanctions, or reduction of trade barriers.
- Display sends strong signal to any disputes
7.1b Advantages of hard power
- fast-acting so results are seen quickly
- gain allies both economic and military
- useful when soft is working
- useful against extremists who are disturbing the general population
- tangible - see what’s going on
7.1b Disadvantages of hard power
- can damage a country’s international image - loss of credibility leads to lack of international cooperation as attitudes of mistrust grows
- invasions, war don’t always go to plan
- no long term benefits
- expensive
- can be risky
- Some may view military action as unnecessary or illegal – so the aggressor may lose allies and moral authority
7.1b Give an example of hard power
USA
- USA organised and led the coalition to expel Iraqi forces that had invaded Kuwait in the First Gulf War (1991)
- Invaded Iraq in the Second Gulf War when economic sanctions (softer power) failed to persuade President Saddam Hussein to change policy (2003)
7.1b What is soft power?
- A persuasive approach to international political relations, involving the use of a nation’s cultural, historical and diplomatic influence.
- Soft Power is the ability of a state to indirectly convince others to desire its goals and vision. This persuasive approach is applied through cultural, historical and/or diplomatic means.
- Enterprise, culture, digital, government, engagement, education
- Sovereign wealth fund
7.1b Advantages of soft power
- forms of soft power include foreign aid, internet connectivity and democracy can influence a country’s international pull
- doesn’t use force - uses attraction to shared values and culture
- Soft power when used well, is low cost because it is about creating alliances and friendly relations and may spread to other countries
7.1b Disadvantages of soft power
- attraction won’t always get you what you want
- takes more time to have an effect than hard power
- using this alone may not persuade another country if they are culturally and ideologically different
- Soft power relies on a country having respected culture, values and
7.1b Give an example of soft power
- Diplomacy - one of the largest networks of diplomats and embassies in the world.
- BBC World Service - more neutral and reliable than many government broadcasters. Worldwide news and programmes.
- Films (Pride and Prejudice), television (Downton Abbey) and literature (Harry Potter)
- City of London (and New York) dominate international finance, banking and law - setting standards and values
7.1b What is smart power?
An approach that underscores the necessity of a strong military, but also invests heavily in alliances, partnerships, and institutions of all levels to expand one’s influence and establish legitimacy of one’s action.
7.1b What did Joseph Nye say about power?
- Made the terms hard and soft power in 1990
- He argues that in the 21st century the most successful countries are those that combine hard and soft power into smart power – carrot stick approach
7.1a Regional power characteristics
- High military, economic, demographic, political and ideological capabilities
- Very large land area and a large population
- Higher per capita income than the regional average
- Higher average growth of GDP and contribute significantly to global and regional growth
- Have more of a differentiated economic structure than other countries in that region – value added of the respective manufacturing industries is higher than the regions average
7.1a Give some examples of regional powers
-China, India, South Africa, Mexico, Indonesia, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Turkey
7.1c What is Mackinder’s Theory?
- 1904 - identified a region of Eurasia that he named the ‘Heartland’
- whoever can controls the heartland will have hegemony
- argued that this was the geo strategic location in the world because control of it commanded a high portion of the worlds physical and human resources
7.1c Shorty explain what geo-strategic location means
how your location in the world can influence your power in the world
7.1c What is the influence of the Heartland theory?
- It persuades the USA, UK, and other European countries that Russia needed to be ‘contained’, i.e. prevented from spreading outward by taking over new areas close by.
- It reinforced the idea that control of physical resources (land, mineral wealth) was important
7.1c Advantages of the heartland theory
- still relevant today in modern geopolitics
- contributes to the policies of containment
7.1c Disadvantages of the heartland theory
-physical isolation in most locations is not an issue due to advancements in technology, communication and transport
7.1c Geostrategic location -USA
- military bases across the world - Allies with countries
- rapid access to everywhere - soft and hard power
7.1c Geostrategic location - China
-setting up bases in East Africa
7.2a Geopolitcal stability
How well governments get on with each other
7.2a When was the imperial era?
- 1500s to 1950
- when the European powers (Spain, Germany, Portugal) conquered land in America, Africa and Asia
7.2a What did the British empire do?
- From 1400s Britain sailed, explored and claimed land as their own - able to build basic sailing ships
- commodities such as cotton, salves, spices were used to set up trading companies in east India
- this generated income and allowed further exploitation
7.2a Industrialisation during British Empire?
- raw materials were brought back to the big shipping areas of Liverpool, London, Bristol which fuelled the industrial revolution
- Brunel created steam and basic power (steam trains and ships) - help form the industrial revolution
- steel producing
7.2a British Empire power
- most countries were taken without force - Britain introduced its legal system, education systems, inventions such as railways, language, sport and culture
- made countries become dependant on the UK by taking all natural resources
- some done by hard power - war and threats
7.2a how did the British empire maintain control?
- Britain highly populated the countries with British military, farmers, administrators
- Britain where ;morally superior’ and had ‘God on their side’
- the argument was that it brought stability and trade
7.2a what is a multipolar world?
a world where several countries have a highly influential role in the world or their world region and link together in world economic and political systems
7.2a what was the end of the British empire?
- after the world war 2, colonies were given up due to having no money and wanting to focus on investment into their own growth
- realisation of the unethical practices
- there were anti-colonial movements and a desire for countries to become independent of their ‘mother country’
7.2b When was there the bi-polar power?
-after the war (1945-1990), between the usa and ussr known as the Cold War era
7.2b the bi - polar power between usa and ussr?
Economic - trade and finance with raw materials and industrialisation
Military - nuclear weapon states
Political - rival global ideologies capitalism vs communism
Cultural - competed for influence using public diplomacy and soft power
wanted to win through attraction as well as coercion
7.2b What actually happened during the Cold War?
- no fighting involved
- just proxy wars
e. g. the Korean War which resulted in the division of Korea - US backed south and USSR backed North
- tense but politically stable
7.2b soft power used by the US during the Cold War
- in order to attract people to US
- International broadcasting - radio liberalisation spreading American message of global capitalism, commerce, trade, freedom
- competed in Olympics for global attention
7.2b How did USA use hard power during the Cold War?
- invested in hard military technology - sea, sky and intercontinentally - intercontinental ballistic missiles
- It is able to back itself up on a global stage with military hardware and technology
e. g. Great White Fleet tour around the world
7.2b how does the us use strategic power?
- Project military command over the whole globe
- Project themselves and strategies internationally
7.2b Who were the US and USSR backed by?
US - NATO
USSR - Warsaw Pact
-both acquired allies in order to internationalise their capacities
7.2b What was the non-aligned movement?
- Countries that joined together to reject capitalism and communism
- Post-colonial states came together and didn’t want to be aligned to either superpowers
- India, Ghana, Egypt, Indonesia, Yugoslavia
7.b Where did USA show its weaknesses?
- 9/11 -No matter how powerful a country it is – borders are not always inviolable
- Highly motivated terrorist organisation was able to puncture this
- corona - Disease has undermined the reputation of the US as a superpower – in terms of public health planning and healthcare
- Losing its world status due to failure of controlling covid
7.2b Why did the Cold War end?
- countries in Eastern Europe didn’t agree with USSR communist ideologies - they gained an increased awareness of westernisation due to globalisation
- negotiations to end the war
- Eastern Europe left -USSR land mass decreased - less natural resource, less money, less power
7.2b What is Neo-colonialism?
The ability to influence other countries that are less dominant
7.2b What are the methods of Neo-colonisalism?
- aid
- military support
- terms of trade
- TNC investments
- Money lending
7.2b Neo-colonialism - aid
- The IMF and the World Bank were set ip to provide aid in the form of ‘structural adjustment’ programs to ensure countries reformed their policies to be pro-western
- much aid is given as ‘tied aid’
- giving aid but also trying to maintain control
7.6a What are the superpower resource demands?
- food
- fossil fuels
- minerals
7.6a Carbon emission trends
- US and China are the largest emitters - heavy manufacturing release this
- Russia’s emissions are decreasing - smaller population and due to a recession
7.6a Industrial water use trends
- USA largest export is agriculture products - this requires lots of water through irrigation
- Japan - hydroponic farming in water
7.6a Meat consumption trends
- Brazil large - lots of cattle farming
- Europe are huge consumers of meat
7.6a Ecological footprint trends
-India - large footprint due to large population
7.6a Forest loss trends
-mostly in developing countries in South America and Africa
7.6a How does climate change impact income poverty?
- impacts the supply and accessibility to energy and water
- Income poverty due to civil unrest due to conflicts of water use from water scarcity
- leads to people not able to work due to poor health and lack of clean water
7.6a How does climate change impact food insecurity and political instability?
- temperature rise leads to little precipitation and drought
- therefore, vegetation dies which leads to lack of nutrients in the soil
- the top soil is blown away which has all the nutrients
- animals die as they have no fodder
- leading to food insecurity
- farmers have lower income leading to fewer people in developing countries earning an income
- political instability
7.6a What are the three UN climate change conferences?
- Kyoto 1997
- Paris 2015
- Marrakesh 2016
7.6a Kyoto 1997
- first time countries agreed to cut greenhouse gases over a 5 year period
- EU 8%, USA 7%, Russia by 0%
7.6a Paris 2015
- to keep local temps below 2 degrees
- limit emissions to what can be naturally absorbed
- rich countries to financially support developing countries to use renewable resources
- 200 countries - USA pulled out when Trump took control (MAGA - aim was to re-nationalise industry, increase manufacturing, leading to high emissions)
- china and Russia had agreed
7.6a Marrakesh 2016
- focussed on the least developed countries committing to using renewable energy and agreeing funding from developed countries
- protection of valuable resources were also agreed
7.6b USA’s willingness to change
- reducing carbon emissions would cost energy companies and harm the economy
- Trump was in favour of MAGA by increasing manufacturing which will increase emissions
- between 2002-2005 US wind power tripled in output and solar energy x10
7.6b Russia’s willingness to change
- its heavily investing in nanotechnology, energy efficiency and laws
- In 1990, they agreed reduce its emissions by 30%, its reduced them now by 35% 0 due to economic crash
- as Russia stabilises, its economy and industry will grow = increase in emissions
7.6b China’s willingness to change
- china has been concerned about how cutting emissions would impact their manufacturing industries and their economy
- In 2016, agreed to cut its emissions and now heavily invests into renewable energy
- concerned for its reputation and global image by making this change, it will become more influential
7.6b EU’s willingness to change
- leaders in carbon reducing initiatives and leading talks
- provide large grants for companies to use, convert to or invest in renewable energy sources
- The CAP protected European farmers from imports which resulting in intensive farming methods that were extremely harmful to the environment
7.6b China’s change - before
- the environmental cost for China’s rapid economic growth from 1990 was very high
- 90% of grasslands and 40% of wetlands suffering significant degradation
- air, water and land pollution - losing numerous valuable services they provide
7.6b China’s change - now
- china is now an emerging environmental leader
- Beijing’s air pollution was cleaned up for 2008 Olympics
- largest investor in renewable energy - in 2015 they spent $105bn which was double than the USA
- In 2020, they committed $367bn for sustainable development that is supposed to provide 13 million jobs
- exporting its expertise in renewable energy and supporting technologies
- In 2016, China invested tens of billions in renewable energy projects in Australia, Germany and Brazil
7.6c Malthus’ Theory
- demand will increase until an event (war, conflict) will wipe out a good bit of the population
- If population increases too quickly, pop may exceed supply - Malthusian crisis
- contribution to society is important so if not helpful need to go
- this was to help natural population control
7.6c Boserup’s Theory
- as population increases, education, innovation will increase with it leading to new technologies that will provide for the demand
- as people moves out of poverty into the middle class - more demand for products which uses more water and energy
- as middle class grows, the pressure on the environment increases
- lag time between government increasing trade and globalisation and the growth fo the middle class
7.6c Staple grain - environment
- Soil degradation
- Chemical runoff excess fertiliser resulting in eutrophication
7.6c staple grain - price
- Land once used for staple food grains will be converted to produce meat and dairy products
- Without new land, prices could rise, affecting the poorest
7.6c staple grain - availability
- Rice consumption has stabilised in India
- Consumption increased by 50% in sub-Saharan Africa
- Consumption is grown steadily in USA and Europe because immigration and increasing awareness of value of a fibre-based diet
7.6c Water - environment
- Industrialising countries (developing and emerging) overuse water available
- Climate change will make diminishing water sources worse – from glaciers melting due to higher temperatures.
- Drought affects food production
7.6c Water -price
- California is the most important place for growth of nuts and fruit – consumer demand for these are increasing as healthy diets are more priority
- This increases agribusinesses to extract more water to increase yields
7.6c Water - availability
-Californian farmers are using more groundwater, but the water table is dropping, and grand subsidence is occurring
7.6c rare earth - environment
- Emerging countries have increase demand for high-tech goods which depend on rare earth
- Lots of water, acid and electricity is used in the extraction process to separate ores from toxins in rare earths
- Processing one tonne of rare earths produce 2000 tonnes of toxic waste and if this waste mixes with surface water or groundwater – environmental impact
- China produces 85% of the global rare earths
- Wastewater is pumped into contaminant ponds where It seeps into groundwater and then drinking water sources
7.6c rare earth price
- In recent years, China has restricted the refining and exports of these products (rare earths) in order to keep their price high
- This then impacted more mining to start in other countries because the higher price makes it economic to do so
- Rare earths are used in LCD screens and numerous hi-etch gadgets which could cause the price to increase
- Basic materials such as copper, tin and platinum are at risk of supply shortages which will cause dramatic price changes
7.6c oil environment
-Pressure has been put on the remote areas (Arctic Ocean) for oil exploitation
7.6c oil price
- There has been an increase in demand due to growing population and economic growth
- Meeting this demand may lead to price rises or supply shortages
7.6c oil availability
-Countries who have their own supplies (Russia and Brazil) are likely to be in a stronger position than those relying on imports (India)
7.2b Neo-colonialism - military support
- developing nations often rely on superpowers for military backing during times of civil war and uprising, or they need them to buy weapons from
- UK sell military weapons to Saudi Arabia
7.2b Neo-colonialism - Term of trade
- make countries reliant on the country - have to keep the relationship
- Frank’s dependancy theory
- low value cash crops vs high value processes goods means that LEDC’s are more reliant on MEDC’s for trade
7.2b Neo-colonialism - TNC investments
- cultural diffusion and westernisation have been taken place
- many developing nations are reliant on TNC’s to provide investment and jobs
- TNC’s set up, become reliant, TNC’s gain more control, country doesn’t develop any of their own industries, TNC’s leave, country is left with a lack of development
- TNC’s bring status and a good reputation of the location
e. g. Rajastan, India - Coca Cola
7.2b Neo-colonialism - Money lending
- developing countries often borrow money from developed ones and end up in debtor-creditor relationships
- UK give money to India (commonwealth)
- India spend billions on space but have bn of people living in poverty
- UK countries to provide funding to commonwealth countries giving it moral authority
7.3a What is an emerging nation?
Nations or countries that have rapidly increased their influence and economic position in the world
7.3a Features of emerging nation
- drivers of global economic growth
- domestic markets are huge investments
- trade and political relationship with emerging nations
- governments are open to investment and globalisation
7.3a Rapid growth characteristics
- large workforce
- geo-strategic location
- room to diversify industries
7.3a Covid impacts on emerging nations
- consumer spending less - cutting back on consumables - demand for products have fallen
- oil production and demand fell
- imports and exports came to a stop
- lack of tourism in emerging countries
7.3a What is the G20?
- top economies that meet together to discuss the Asian economy crisis in 1997
- has a considerable political influence
- now more governments and financial ministers represent the country in meetings
- sign of power and status
- soft, smart power and having allies
7.3a Conflicts with the G20?
- favours making profit and economic growth
- contributes to social inequality
- doesn’t include all countries - doesn’t always benefit everyone
7.3b Brazil - political pros and cons
+stable government
+regional leader in Latin America
-hesitates to use its soft power through aid
7.3b Brazil -economic pros and cons
+current economy is improving, can invest more into military and infrastructure
+strong agricultural economy and exporter
+growing middle class and maturing consumer economy
-left leading priminister is increasing taxes to revive economy
-education levels lag behind competitors
7.3b Brazil - military pros and cons
- Only BRIC nations that doesn’t have any nuclear weapons
- small military with only regional intervention capacity
7.3b Brazil - demographic pros and cons
+the Portuguese language is universal
-problems with education system
7.3b Brazil - environmental pros and cons
+doesn’t rely on other regions due to no conflicts in region
-needs to control the destruction of its forests
7.3b Brazil - cultural pros and cons
+culture is appreciated across the world
+culturally influential in 2012 World Cup and 2016 olympics
7.3b Russia - political pros and cons
+government well-liked with the people of Russia
+permanent seat on the UN Security Council
-Difficult diplomatic and geopolitical relationships with the EU and USA
7.3b Russia -economic pros and cons
+huge oil and gas reserves are a source of wealth
- extreme levels of inequality
- economy is heavily dependant on oil and gas
- few TNC’s so rely on small businesses
7.3b Russia - military pros and cons
+a nuclear power with very large military capacity
+large military and powerful
-don’t invest in modern warfare
7.3b Russia - demographic pros and cons
+stable population growth
-an ageing and declining population, is also unhealthy
7.3b Russia - environmental pros and cons
-50% of all water in Russia is polluted
7.3b Culturally - environmental pros and cons
-low bran recognition
7.3b India - political pros and cons
- poor political relations with its neighbours especially in Pakistan
- large amounts of corruption - ranks 81/180 most corrupt
7.3b India - economic pros and cons
+expected to be 1 of top 3 powers in the world in the next 10 years
- possible future resource shortages in water and energy
- poor transport and energy infrastructure
- very high levels of poverty
7.3b India - military pros and cons
+nuclear armed, and has sophisticates space and missile technology
-small military compared to other powers
7.3b India - demographic pros and cons
+youthful population with large economic potential
+50% of pop under 30
7.3b India - Environmental pros and cons
+solar power and renewable energy technologies
-air pollution has increased poverty
7.3b India - culturally pros and cons
+English is widely spoken and graduate education is widespread
+bollywood is influential
