Superpowers case studies Flashcards
USA superpower characteristics
Economic: GDP per capita= $53,000, natural resources, global trade links
Military: US military spending accounts for 37% of all military spending in the world
Demographic: 45 million migrants live in the USA
Cultural: 16 of the worlds top 20 universities are in the US
Hard Power Examples
(hard power= a country achieving its objectives through force)
MILITARY POWER: the USA responded to the 2001 terrorist attack on the USA with a military invasion of Afghanistan against the Taliban who were supporters of the terrorists
ECONOMIC POWER: the use of economic sanctions (to damage a nations economy) by the USA, against countries it considers a threat to its interests, such as Iran
(Hard power was how countries like Britain gained dominance in the past, but today it leads to a loss of global influence)
Soft Power Examples
(soft power= power to achieve objectives through persuasion)
The Uks global influence is dependent on soft power:
CULTURE: English is widely used as a second language around the world, and the BBC is widely trusted as an unbiased news source; high quality British TV drama is exported to many countries
An example of soft power being effective could be the 2012 London Olympics. This is because through these games, the UK had access to a worldwide audience, and also the opportunity to influence visitors to the game themselves. The opening theme was important, as it portrayed some familiar themes about the UK to remind the global audience of its historical, political and cultural importance , eg putting James Bond and the Queen together. By promoting the UK in this way, they were able to extend its soft power influence in, encouraging people to visit the UK as tourists, encouraging foreign investment.
TNCs as a global influence / power
(TNCs influence the global economy in 2 significant ways: economic dominance and their role in cultural globalisation)
-They dominate the global economy. In 2015, the largest 200 TNCs produced 25% of global output.
-This is due to economies of scale. They can produce goods more cheaply than national firms, so drive them out of business.
-In 2013, the UN conference estimated than TNCs account for 80% of global trade
-Their economic power influences trade patterns, and therefore the location of areas of growth through FDI.
-Partially responsible for global shift. If they decide to move elsewhere, such as US car companies moving out of Detroit, they can cause economic decline.
Global Police/ the UN Security Council
-made up of 5 permanent members= China, France, Russia, UK and USA
-it has the role of keeping peace between countries eg it can arrange economic sanctions to stop countries trading with a state that is causing problems
Global geopolitical stability (the UN)
The UN was set up to maintain global peace and security by encouraging nations to cooperate in solving international problems
It was set up in 1945 and was part of an attempt to create a new world and avoid further world wars.
-the INTERNATIONAL COURT OF JUSTICE= settles legal disputes between nations
-the SECURITY COUNCIL makes decisions on how to deal with threats to global peace
-UN PEACEKEEPING missions send troops to conflict regions to help achieve peace
-UN CLIMATE CHANGE CONFERENCES are held yearly to assess progress in tackling climate change and to negotiate agreements
The British Empire: Unipolar
(there is one superpower who dominates economically and politically)
Britain was the first ever superpower
-the british empire ruled a fifth of the worlds population
Britain invested in its navy until it was the most powerful in the world
End of the empire:
-expensive =after worl war 1 britain could no longer afford it
Colonial rule in india=
-the royal navy surrounded indian ports as a symbol of military power
The Cold War: Bipolar
(two superpowers exist, each with different ideologies)
-tensions between the USA and USSR from 1950 to the 1990s due to their conflicting ideologies (beliefs and values) and competition to become a unipolar superpower
-DURING THE COLD WAR:
The countries supporting the USSR formed the Warsaw Pact (a military agreement
of alliance).
● The USA created NATO, which its allies joined to cooperate military powers.
● After 1945, the USA provided billions of dollars’ worth of aid to many European
nations to rebuild after the wars.
● The USA also invested significant amount into Japan, Singapore and The Philippines
in order to protect these countries from being influenced by communism.
● The Space Race became a competition of knowledge and economic capacity
between the USA and USSR. Despite the fact that the USSR sent the first man (Yuri
Gagarin) and first satellite (Sputnik) into space, many believe that the USA won after
sending Apollo 11 to the moon.
-After the collapse of the USSR, the USA became the global dominating force again.
Brazil: emerging superpower
(An emerging
country is a state that has a developing economy or government and has large projected
growth)
BRAZIL POSITIVES:
-Economically= Produces more than 50% of South Americas GDP, has large reserves of natural resources, it has energy and food security,
-Demographics= largest population in SA and also fairly young population
-Culturally= Brazil has a global
reputation as a footballing nation
and has won many world cups.
BRAZIL NEGATIVES:
-Economically= faces boom and bust phases, that severely hamper
Brazil’s development.
-Politically= High corruption levels
-Military= -Its military is insignificant; only playing a small
regional role and no international
involvement.
-Demographics= -Fertility rates have decreased significantly so the
population may decline in the
future.
-Environmental= -Deforestation is a major issue with large swathes of
the Amazon being cut down for
agricultural and commercial purposes.
-Pollution is another major problem from oil spills and mining
Russia: emerging superpower
RUSSIA POSITIVES:
-ECONOMIC= -It is the 9th largest
economy in the world and has large reserves of oil and
gas
-POLITICAL= -It is a permanent
member of the UN
Security Council.
-MILITARY=-It has nuclear
weapons and a
large military
RUSSIA NEGATIVES:
ECONOMIC= overly dependent
on oil and gas for revenue, which is not sustainable income for the
future. -The country has been hit with EU sanctions that have weakened the Ruble and the
economy.
MILITARY=-Russia has
intervened in Syria
with airstrikes which
has damaged
relations with other
countries
DEMOGRAPHICS=The population is
ageing which is
impacting the
economy.
ENVIRONMENTAL=One of the most ecologically stressed landscapes due to human degradation + extraction of
natural resources damages
surroundings
India: emerging superpower
INDIA POSITIVES:
ECONOMIC=Widespread use of
English has been beneficial as it has attracted many TNCs.
MILITARY=4th largest military in
terms of personnel and weaponry + has nuclear weapons
DEMOGRAPHICS= one of the largest populations + The majority of Indians are young and so there is a large pool of labour available.
CULTURAL= Bollywood which is
the world’s largest film industry outside of Hollywood, producing 1200 films annually
ENVIRONMENTAL= one of the most biodiverse countries
INDIA NEGATIVES:
ECONOMIC=Infrastructure like
energy and water supply as well as
transport is poor, power cuts are
frequent. + government has a lot of debt + Society very unequal = more than 20% of people live in poverty.
ENVIRONMENTAL=Pollution is a major problem as India is the world’s third largest emitter of
CO2 + has some of world’s largest
and worst urban slums which have
damaged the environment.
China: emerging superpower
CHINA POSITIVES:
ECONOMIC= major player in
global investment= invested
heavily in developing
countries especially in
Africa.
DEMOGRAPHICS= its large population of 1.4 billion= large labour pool, allowing China’s economy to increase. + its ageing pop requires expensive support
through healthcare and
social care
CULTURAL= China’s influence is
growing as they are investing in other countries (such as Africa).
CHINA NEGATIVES:
ECONOMIC=Rising wages in China
have led to TNCs moving to
cheaper countries like
Bangladesh + Its ageing population
combined with its one Child
Policy may cause its economy to collapse entirely.
POLITICAL= China’s government is run by an authoritarian party.
-Has tense relationships with many SE Asian nations.
MILITARY= despite its large
numbers of soldiers the army is very poorly equipped.
ENVIRONMENTAL= the world’s largest emitter of CO2, producing
35% of the world’s emissions + -Rivers throughout China have been polluted with chemicals from factories (YELLOW RIVER)
Rostows Modernisation theory
The believe that the development of a country takes 5 stages of growth: traditional society, pre-conditions, take-off, drive to maturity and mass consumption
-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.
Rostow’s model only considers a country in isolation from the world, where the development
is the sole responsibility of the country itself. However, this is not true; in an increasingly
connected globalised world, the development of a country may be limited by international
politics or competition for trade by other states.
Resources and rights (arctic oil)
-It is estimated that 30% of the worlds undiscovered oil and gas may be located under the Arctic Ocean (worth billions of dollars)
-3 of the main parties involved have nuclear weapons (Russia, USA and EU)
-Russia placed a flag on the North Pole in 2007 which escalated tensions
-Under the united nations law of the sea, countries can only claim the right to exploit resources in an area up to 200 nautical miles beyond their coastline
-TENSIONS HAVE INCREASED because of it= Canada conducts annual military exercises in the Arctic, Russia has more military bases in the Arctic than all other countries combined
Tensions in the South China Sea
-China has set up a military base on the Spratly Islands, which are claimed by 6 different countries.
-There are large reserves of fossil fuels around the Islands (85% of worlds energy comes from them)
-also a key strategic location as 30% of the worlds trade passes by
ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS= china has poured sand onto coral reefs in the region to construct bases on= killing coral reef
