Superpowers EQ1 Flashcards
Define SUPERPOWER
A superpower is a nation which is able to project its influence and be dominant on a global scale
Describe the changing “polar” landscape of the world
The British Empire was arugably the strongest superpower until WW2.
After WW2, the USA and USSR emerged as superpowers. This led to the Cold War where the Soviet Union collapsed and now the US is the sole superpower in a UNIPOLAR world.
What are the 2 key emerging superpower groups?
EU
BRICS
What are regional powers?
These are nations which exert power and influence over other countries in the region including:
South Africa in Africa
France, Germany and the UK in Europe
What is smart power?
In 2003 Joesph Nye coined the term ‘Smart power’ to demonstrate that effective foreign policy and maintenance of power needs the use of both hard and soft powers.
What is sharp power?
Sharp power is the use of diplomatic and political manipulation by one country to influence and undermine the political system of a target country.
Describe the shift in maintaing power through differing mechanisms?
The overall shift has been from the use of hard power to the use of soft power.
Historically military force and power were frequently used to gain and maintain power over other nations.
When was the world multi polar?
In the early 20th century post napoleanic wars.
AKA — Concert of Europe
Why did Britain collapse as a superpower?
The role of the UK in WWI and WWII, together with the Great Depression led to the collapse of the UK as a superpower.
Summarise China’s profile
Political : Tends to stay out of global issues, not a democracy.
Economic : Second largest GDP in the world + Large scale investment in African countries
Military : Increasing Military Force, Nuclear Powers
Demographic : 2nd largest population in the world
Cultural : Little influence
Why is China NOT a superpower?
Only 1 overseas base whereas the US has over 128
Also, 25% of the population live in Poverty, they have limited soft power and have human rights abuses.
What is Wallersteins World Systems theory?
Whole world is one unit divided into
Core - HIC, Developed nations, need labour / resources from peripheries.
Semi - Periphery - MIC, Industrialising, developing countries, moving towards becoming core nations.
Peripheries - LIC, Low Skill, Export Labour / Natural Resources and need investment from other countries.
Too focussed on the economy - nothing on Culture
What is Mackinders Heartlands theory?
“Those who control the heartlands control Europe and those who control Europe control the world.”
What is Rostows Modernisation theory?
5 stage development theory.
Stage 1: Traditional society: economy based on bartering, subsidence farming and little investment
Stage 2: Pre-conditions for take off (transitional stage): surpluses are traded through improved infrastructure and shift to manufacturing
Stage 3: Take off: industrial and regional growth, investment and political change
Stage 4: Drive to maturity: growth is supported through technological innovation, diversification and investment
Stage 5 - High mass consumption: consumer orientated society, durable goods production, dominant service sector, higher disposable incomes
Model assumes all countries start at the same point /// too simple outdated
What is the dependency theory?
Shows how the Core traps the Peripheries into not developing.
Argues that:
Persistent poverty of developing countries is the result of their dependency on developed countries.
There is an unequal relationship between the developed and developing countries
