Superpowers Flashcards
what does superpower mean
A Superpower is a large country with a large population, strong economy, great military power, and great political and cultural influence. … Their power is global in nature, as they have to control their economy at home and overseas.
what are the 7 pillars of superpower status
1) economic power
2) physical size and geographical position of the country
3) Demographic factors
4) political factors
5) military
6) cultural
7) physical resources
how can political factors influence superpower status.
The ability to influence other countries in a way which suits their
desires or match their political systems. Ideology is closely linked with politics, as many
states may force their ideology through policies.
explain hgow economic power is important in superpower status.
– A large economy enables a nation to control trade. They can also use their
money to invest in a strong military force and exploit natural resources. They may also
own the debt of other nations thereby having power over them.
physical size and geographgical position in importance in superpower status.
larger the country the more resources and larger influence it will have.
demographic factors in super power importance.
the higher the populatrion size the greater the workforce the country tends to have.A large human workforce if utilised properly can help to develop a nation’s economy. For example, the emerging superpowers China and India both have large populations which are being used in manufacturing to develop their economies.
how does military strength affect superpowers
A nation can use their military to threaten or invade other countries (hard power) or to achieve geo-political goals (such as UN Peacekeeping Missions).
USA is currently the lead in military power globally because of the vast investment in military power. However in the recent years military power has become less signifdicant over the years.
what are the two types of power
hard and soft power
explain hard power
Using military and direct political intervention to change or influence the behaviour of other countries.
● Military action
● Threat of trade restrictions
(embargos)
● Use of economic sanctions to damage a nation’s economy
● Owning the debt of other countries
explain soft power
Attracting national governments and individuals to their country through
● Attractive culture & lifestyle
● Sought-after political advice
● Foreign policies that encourage migration
● Trade alliances
● Foreign direct investment in
business, infrastructure or facilities
uni polar world
One country dominates e.g. the USA currently or the British Empire during colonial times
bipolar world
Where there are two main superpowers with opposing ideas and ideologies e.g. the USA and USSR during the Cold War.
multi polar world
Where there are several powers and emerging powers competing for power and global influence.
what 3 ways did USA and USSR maintained their influence in bi polar world
- military influence
- political influence
- cultural influenec
disadvantages of hard power
expensives , usually cost people lives.
Mackinder’s Geo-Strategic Location Theory
mackinder classified eurasia as the ‘heartland’ which is the area from Russia to china
-geostrategic location since it controlled large amount of physical and human resources.
The theory was influential because it contributed to policies of containment: - After WWI, attempts were made to limit Germany’s expansion into this strategic area. - After WWII, NATO allies tried to contain the Soviets from expanding into south and west Europe.
- because of the shrinking world effect, so easier transportation and advanced technology , the dominance has shifted to Asia.
Wallerstein’s World Systems Theory
identifies two different economic areas within the world - the core and the periphery.
- Core regions are economic powerhouses and therefore control most aspects of global trade such as trade agreements and trading currency. The core regions trade with those in the periphery who often provide labour and materials for the core nations.
The theory tries to explain inequality in wealth and development across the world. In the past relationships between the core and periphery were purely exploitative (colonialism) and the periphery was forced to provide their natural resources through means of hard power such as military force or occupation. For example, the British Empire’s exploitation of India for natural resources. In more recent times this relationship centres around trade agreements (soft power) which often benefit the core regions more than they benefit the periphery. These trade agreements often favour the core nations.
Rostow’s Modernisation Theory
beleive that a country passes throuygh 5 stages during economic development
1) Traditional Society - countrys economy mainly depending on mining , agriculyture and small vbusinesses. minimal scientific knowlegde.
● Pre-conditions for Take Off - increased construction and infrasturs. trade with other countries and increase in FDI and increase in GDP and jobs. more manufacture
● Take Off - rapid industrilasiton , increase employment and enviromemntal degredation , people exploited.
● This is often fuelled by relaxed laws and regulations protecting the natural son accelerates, Drive to Maturity - Over a period of time, the growing economy will encourage new industries and investment, creating further jobs, improving services through increased tax. This is a positive feedback mechanism of gradually improving living conditions.
● High Mass Consumption - Developed countries, in Rostow’s opinion, are countries who are capitalistic and consumers hold the most valuable opinion. Often goods are catered towards these markets, as families have disposable income to spend.
limitations of rostow theory
- theory nbased mainly on american and eurpean development. not covering the whole world.Rostow’s Model only considers the advancement of development, so doesn’t describe a nation that is declining. Some examples of declining states include:
● The USSR (post-cold war) - following ‘loss’ in the Cold War, the USSR became bankrupt and disbanded into the nations of today - Ukraine, Belarus, etc. The new Russia faced economic recession and social deprivation.
● Zimbabwe - For a large period of time, the government has been corrupt, limiting the country’s development regardless of its level of industrial capacity.
what polarity is the current world in
uni polar world
why is the current world uni polar
becayuse of rapidly emerging superpowers.
how much of the world did the British empire rule during its colonial era
quarter of worlds land and a third of the worlds population.
who dominated half of the worlds oceans
british empire
who dominated the other half, like the mediterrainean sea, black sea, perisan gulf, red sea and arabian sea
ottoman empire
which type of power the briotish empire use
hard power- invaded other countries like India, and colonised them to gain power and control those countries.
what does colonisation mean
the action or process of settling among and establishing control over the indigenous people of an area , often involving, forcing religion and culture over the indigenous people and alienising the already present and established cultutreal norms , dishes practices and traditions, forcing the indingenoud people to move away from their culture and identity to become more like their colonisers. colonisation has often involved, murdering and torturing indegenous people .
success of colonisatuion ( but this is biased success as does tyhe bemnefits really matter if the costs out weigh the benefist, so is it actually success)
Railway lines were built throughout the country and were used to transport goods and the army quickly between places.
▪ The English language spread throughout the Empire, which has allowed Commonwealth countries to become outsourcing services and participate in business. ▪ Education for all colonial states was improved - schools were set up & curriculum established. This has led to increased international migration to fill skills shortages in other countries after WWII.
negatives about colonial power
The majority of crops grown in colonial states were bought by the British at very low prices and then sold off by Britain for large amounts (Neo-colonial Theory - see below). This means that farmers and primary manufacturers were left with little profit to invest in their own futures.
▪ Many colonial states did not have their own governments, which caused severe protests for independence and unstable countries when made independant.
▪ Discriminating policies were established to segregate the British migrants from natives. These policies have remained in some countries until recent years.
when did the british empire collapse
20th century
why did the british empire collapse
After the war, many colonial powers were bankrupt as they had to spend a lot during the war and so they couldn’t afford to control and maintain their colonies.
▪ After the wars, colonial powers focused mainly on rebuilding their home countries and so they focused less on the colonies.
▪ Anti-colonial movements gained popularity, and increasing demand for independence forced colonial armies out
what is neo colonism
is a form of indirect control over developing countries.
Means ‘new’ colonialism, where countries remain under control from overseas –even though they are supposedly independent.
It is a form of economic imperialism rather than political.
Direct political control decreased whilst economic control increased
neocolonial case studies
- Mozambique has given fishing rights to China, in return for infrastructure (hospitals, airports, roads). China actually has 1 million of its people living in Africa and has invested over $40 billion into African nations. This may sound quite fair, but local fishermen are now out-competed, losing their source of income and instead having to work for Chinese fishing boats for less money.
● The IMF and World Bank have both been accused of being ‘neo-colonial’. They provide loans to developing nations, but with high rates of repayment and conditions if the developing nation is unable to repay. Therefore, developing nations become ‘trapped’ in a cycle of debt and have to open their economies to private companies (governments lose assets and income, making them even less likely to repay their debts).
which polarity was the world in during the cold war
bi polar
