Superpowers enquiry question 1

Question 1

What is a superpower?

Answer 1

A Superpower is a nation or group of nations with a leading position in international politics e.g. USA

Question 2

What country threatens the US hegemony and why?

Answer 2

China due to its increase in wealth and influence after its open door policy to foreign direct investment in 1978.

Question 3

Compare the US and China’s military spending.

Answer 3

US’ military spending is nearly 5x that of China and accounts for 40% of all global military spending.

Question 4

What are the 6 characteristics of a superpower?

Answer 4

• Military
• Political
• Economy
• Demography
• Culture
• Resources

Question 5

What are the three main features of soft power?

Answer 5

• History
• Culture
• Diplomacy

Question 6

What does soft power help to do?

Answer 6

Maintain a super power status through using other methods than force.

Question 7

What are the two features of hard power?

Answer 7

• economic
• military

Question 8

What is geostrategic theory?

Answer 8

That it was crucial for a country top control a strategic area he called this the ‘heartland’ which was the centre of the pivot area (Eurasia) Whoever ruled the pivot would command the world island and whoever would do this would control the world.

Question 9

What are the limits of geostrategic theory?

Answer 9

• Britain is an anomaly due to Industrial Revolution brining about immense economic power and its navel strength.

Question 10

What are the three things that shape theories that are good evaluation points?

Answer 10

• THEY ARE A PRODUCT OF THEIR TIME
• THE PERSON WHO WRITES THEM AND THEIR NATIONALITY
• THEY ARE INEVITABLY OUT OF DATE

Question 11

What is modernisation theory?

Answer 11

The step-by-step journey to becoming a superpower:
traditional society - preconditions for take off - take off - drive to maturity - high-mass consumption.

Question 12

What are 3 limits to modernisation theory?

Answer 12

• COUNTRIES CAN BE STUCK due to dependency theory as colonialism and natural disasters can leave them unable to develop
• steps can be skipped through the industrial rev in england
• It is a westernised theory and is not applicable in the Middle East for example.

Question 13

What is the depending theory?

Answer 13

The fact that the major cause of poverty in developing countries is their reliance on developed countries creating a chain of dependency. As the sale of primary products to the developed world keeps them poor since they are unable to add value to these products, leaving them for no profit in investment.

Question 14

What is development theory?

Answer 14

‘The development of Underdevelopmet’
- colonialism is responsible for poverty as developed countries willingly keep or countries underdeveloped through exploitation and dependency through slavery and reliance on Western aid.

Question 15

What is the main limitation of the dependency, development and modernisation?

Answer 15

That they do not take into account MIC’S including China and NIC’S.

Question 16

What is World System’s theory?

Answer 16

The belief that there was a core, periphery and SEMI-PERIPHERY, allowing the idea that states can leave and join different areas. Creates links to globalisation.

Question 17

Define Neo-Colonialism

Answer 17

It means ‘NEW’ colonialism where countries remain under control from overseas, even though they are supposedly independent.

It is also the continued control of former colonies through ruling native elites so that populations are exploited for their labour and resources.

Question 18

What is Neo-Colonialism - as a theory?

Answer 18

Refers to the indirect control over developing countries, often linked to Africa. Countries are prevented from development since they have gained their independence this socially costs them, as ruling elites pay constant deference to the Neo-colonial masters so the needs of the population are often ignored.

Question 19

Example of indirect control

Answer 19

China has heavily invested in Africa. China is Africa’s largest trading partner and they have invested in infrastructure and exploration to aid their own economy. They have also helped created jobs and unskilled people this making relations strong.

Question 20

CASE STUDY, SOMALI AND SOMALI LAND

Answer 20

Country is now a failed state, 1991 civil war broke out and the government collapsed.

Wealthy people now returning home are not welcomed against the poor and resentment is built causing issues.

Question 21

Who are the contenders of emerging powers?

Answer 21

BRICS AND MINT

Question 22

what does BRICS stand for

Answer 22

Brazil
Russia
India
China
South Africa

Question 23

what does MINT stand for

Answer 23

Mexico
Indonesia
Nigeria
Turkey

Question 24

What is the OECD?

Answer 24

the organisation for economic cooperation and development

Question 25

What does the OECD do?

Answer 25

Democracies with market-based economies that collaborate and develop policy to promote economic growth and social well being.

Question 26

What is the G7?

Answer 26

A political and economic forum brining together worlds most advance economies to create global economic policies.

Question 27

Who are in the G7?

Answer 27

Canada
France
Germany
Italy
UK
USA
EU

Question 28

What is the G77?

Answer 28

77 developing countries who provide a collective voice to promote their economic interests.
- mainly developing countries in Global South.

Question 29

What is the G20?

Answer 29

Discusses global economic and political issues, they account for 85% of the world’s economic output and more than 75% of world trade, containing 2/3 of the global population.

Question 30

Who is more powerful G7 or G20?

Answer 30

The G7 has been losing its strength since the G20 has been introduced

Question 31

What are the two IGO’s stopping the effectiveness of the IMF and increasing Chinese dominance?

Answer 31

• The New Development bank
• Contigent Reserve Arrangement