Superpowers - Case Studies Flashcards
What are the 6 key characteristics that define a superpower? Give examples
Economic: GDP, trade dominance (USA: $27 trillion GDP, 2024)
Political: Permanent UN Security Council seat
Military: Budget (USA: $877 billion in 2022), nuclear capacity
Cultural: Global media (Hollywood), brands (McDonald’s, Apple)
Demographic: Large or skilled population (India: 1.4B)
Natural Resources: Energy exports (Russia: 10% of global oil)
What is the difference between hard and soft power? Give examples.
Hard power: Military force or economic sanctions (e.g. US sanctions on Iran)
Soft power: Cultural appeal, diplomacy (e.g. BBC World Service, Confucius Institutes)
Joseph Nye’s Power Spectrum:
Hard ←→ Smart ←→ Soft
How is China using economic power to gain global influence? Example + criticism
BRI: Over $1 trillion invested
Connects 60+ countries via infrastructure (rail, ports)
Example: Gwadar Port, Pakistan (strategic access to Indian Ocean)
Criticism: “Debt-trap diplomacy”
How did colonial power differ from neo-colonial control?
Colonial: Direct military & political control (British Raj in India)
Neo-colonial: Indirect economic/cultural control (IMF structural adjustment, Western media)
Cold War: Bipolar world – USA vs USSR
Example: Angola – former Portuguese colony; now influenced by China (infrastructure-for-oil deals)
What are the risks and benefits of different polar world systems?
Unipolar (e.g. USA post-1991): Stability, but risk of dominance
Bipolar (e.g. Cold War): Arms race, proxy wars
Multipolar (today): Increased competition (e.g. USA, China, EU, Russia)
Greater instability but potential for checks on power
How are emerging powers reshaping the global order?
BRICS: 40% of global population, ~25% of global GDP
G20: 80% of global GDP
China: Global manufacturing hub
India: IT and services sector growth
What are the strengths and weaknesses of BRICS countries?
China: Strong economy & military; ageing population, debt
India: Youthful population; poor infrastructure
Russia: Energy rich; sanctions & demographic decline
Brazil: Natural resources; political instability
Name 3 development theories that explain superpower emergence.
Modernisation Theory (Rostow): 5-stage linear development path; e.g. South Korea
Dependency Theory (Frank): Core exploits periphery; limits development
World Systems Theory (Wallerstein): Core, semi-periphery, periphery – dynamic, not fixed
How do superpowers control the global economy through IGOs?
IMF/World Bank/WTO: US-led, promote free-market policies
What is the role of TNCs in global power and culture?
TNCs: 80% of global trade (e.g. Apple, Shell)
Hold patents = tech dominance
Spread Western culture (e.g. Netflix, McDonald’s)
Criticism: cultural erosion, “Coca-Colonisation”
How do superpowers act as global police?
Military: NATO (USA-led), peacekeeping
Environmental: China & USA – Paris Agreement
Humanitarian: USAID, UN missions in Mali & South Sudan
What 3 types of alliances help superpowers maintain influence? Give examples
Military: NATO, ANZUS
Economic: EU, USMCA, ASEAN
Environmental: IPCC – global climate coordination
How do superpowers contribute to environmental issues?
USA: 2nd highest CO₂ emissions (~15% of global)
China: Highest emitter (~30% of global CO₂)
Overconsumption: Energy, minerals, food
Reluctance to act: US left Paris Accord under Trump
How does rising consumption in emerging powers impact the environment?
BRICS = growing demand for rare earths, oil, water
Increased deforestation (Amazon), urban air pollution (Delhi, Beijing)
Strain on global resources
Why is the Arctic a contested region?
Estimated 30% of undiscovered gas
Claims by Russia, USA, Canada, Denmark
Russia: military bases & icebreakers in Arctic
Environmental risks: oil spills, indigenous displacement
How does IP counterfeiting affect power?
Undermines Western TNCs (e.g. pirated iPhones in China)
Discourages innovation/investment
WTO disputes between USA-China
Give examples of territorial disputes involving superpowers
South China Sea: China vs ASEAN nations; military bases on artificial islands
Eastern Europe: Russia-Ukraine war; annexation of Crimea (2014)
Impacts: Displacement, sanctions, regional instability
How is China increasing its influence in Africa?
$300 billion in trade with Africa
Infrastructure projects: rail in Kenya, dams in Ethiopia
Critics: neo-colonial exploitation; debt risk
Environmental issues: deforestation, mining
Why is Asia increasingly significant geopolitically?
China & India = key global economies
Regional tensions: India-China border, Taiwan Strait
South China Sea disputes impact global trade (⅓ passes through)
Why is the Middle East geopolitically unstable?
Religious & ethnic divisions (Sunni vs Shia)
Strategic oil reserves (⅓ of global oil)
Proxy conflicts (e.g. Syria: US vs Russia support)
Superpower interest = prolonged conflicts
What economic challenges do existing superpowers face?
USA: Rust Belt decline, inequality, $34 trillion debt
EU: Ageing population, youth unemployment (Spain: 30%)
High cost of military: US spends 3.5% of GDP on defence
What could the global power balance look like in 2050?
Continued US dominance
Bipolar: US-China
Multipolar: rise of BRICS+
