Superpowers EQ1 (7.1)

Question 1

Superpower definition:

Answer 1

A nation with the ability to project its influence anywhere in the world and be a dominant global force

Question 2

Hyperpower definition:

Answer 2

An unchallenged superpower that is dominant in all aspects (political, economic, cultural, military). Examples include the USA from 1990 to 2010 and Britain from 1850 to 1910

Question 3

Blue water navy definition:

Answer 3

One which can deploy into the open ocean. i.e. with large, ocean going ships. Many smaller nations only have a green water navy, designed to patrol littoral waters

Question 4

Diplomacy definition:

Answer 4

The negotiation and decision making that takes place between nations as part of international relations, leading to international agreements and treaties.

Question 5

Ideology definition:

Answer 5

A set of beliefs, values, and opinions held the majority of people in society. These determine what is considered normal or acceptable behaviour. Superpowers project their ideology onto others`

Question 6

Geo-strategic policies definition:

Answer 6

Policies that attempt to meet the global and regional policy aims of a country, by combining diplomacy with the movement and positioning of military assets

Question 7

What are the types of dominant polarity there can be in the world?

Answer 7

• Uni-polar
• Bi-polar
• Multi-polar
• We are moving towards a more multi-polar world

Question 8

What is the spectrum of power:

Answer 8

• Hard power
• Economic power
• Soft power

Question 9

Examples of hard power:

Answer 9

• Military action or the threat of it
• The creation of alliances, both economic and military
• The use of economic sanctions to damage a nation’s economy

Question 10

Examples of economic power:

Answer 10

• Economic or development aid from one nation to another

- Signing favourable trade agreements to increase economic ties

Question 11

Examples of soft power:

Answer 11

• The cultural attractiveness of some nations, making it more likely that others will follow their lead
• The values and ideologies of some nations being seen as appealing
• The moral authority of a nation’s foreign policy

Question 12

what are some of the features that make a superpower ?

Answer 12

• strong economy gives countries the wealth needed to be a global player
• strong cultural power e.g art,music, food and media
• political power
• demographic as large population means more workers and stronger army
• military prowess as this means that other countries don’t mess with them
• resources such as oil, gas, minerals, water etc. mean that they are self reliant and also other countries depend on them
• location as this effects if it has ports, how many countries it borders and resources

Question 13

what is smart power ?

Answer 13

It is a combination of hard and soft power

Question 14

What is the UN security council ?

Answer 14

It is the key decision making body in the world and there are only 5 countries in it. This displays the disproportionate weight that superpowers have politically

Question 15

what are the different types of global influence ?

Answer 15

unipolar- British empire and USA
bipolar-cold war
multipolar-Rise of USSR, USA and Germany

Question 16

What is an example of hard power today ?

Answer 16

• NATO is overt hard power as it is a military alliance that is obvious and threatening
• The US and British operations in Iraq and the middle east
• Russia invading Ukraine in 2014

Question 17

what is the Heartland theory ?

Answer 17

It is a theory by Halford Mackinder in the early 20th century and he identified a region of Eurasia he called the heartland. He argued that this was a key region and that whoever had control of it would have control of the world.

Question 18

How was Heartland theory influential ?

Answer 18

It persuaded The US and UK to stop Russia from spreading outwards and taking new areas

Question 19

What was the British empire like ?

Answer 19

• They where so great due to exploration and sea power which meant they conquered areas in Africa, America, Australia and Asia
• they colonised India and built rail networks and huge palaces. They also bought culture to India such as tea, cricket and English
• it controlled 24% of the world in its peak in 1920

Question 20

How has the UK’s vast empire benefited them today ?

Answer 20

Even though the empire no longer exists they bare a small nation but:

• they are the 6th largest economy
• have a lot of trade connections
• 5th highest defence budget

Question 21

how did the British empire come to an end ?

Answer 21

They lost their power after WW2 and they where helped financially by the US. Also nationalism in places such as India and competition form other countries such as the US and USSR meant the UK no longer had their power

Question 22

what are some of the indirect mechanisms of power that we see today ?

Answer 22

• political decision making such as G7 and UN security council
• military threats such as nuclear rockets mean countries don’t mess with them
• trade deals and trade blocs create economic alliances
• global media, arts and culture are spread on other countries

Question 23

when did indirect power really come in to play in the world ?

Answer 23

during the cold war era when the US and USSR sought allies among other countries such as military alliances such as NATO

Question 24

why are China thought of as the most likely country to rival USA in the future ?

Answer 24

• it has huge human resources
• its economy is growing rapidly
• it is increasingly engaging with other parts of the world most notably Africa’s mineral resources
• it ha the potential for a huge military and they have military ambitions such as a blue water navy

Question 25

what is the difference between a blue and green water navy ?

Answer 25

a blue water navy is one that operates in the open ocean all over the world whereas green water navy has only ships on the coast

Question 26

What is likely to happen in the future with the worlds emerging countries ?

Answer 26

• they will start to demand more of a say in global organisations such as the UN
• have more say over global financial decision making such as IMF and world bank
• play greater role in international peacekeeping as their military’s grow

Question 27

what is dependency theory ?

Answer 27

it is an idea that there is a group of wealthy states and a periphery of poor underdeveloped states. The resources are extracted from the periphery by the wealthy states.

Question 28

what is wallerstein’s world systems theory ?

Answer 28

it divides the world in to 3 rather than 2 types of country: core, semi periphery and periphery. This theory is accepted as a world view today.

Question 29

what is Rostow’s take off model ?

Answer 29

It is also know as modernisation theory and it suggests that economic development only occurs when certain conditions are met

Question 30

what are the strengths and weaknesses of world systems theory ?

Answer 30

strengths:
it is acknowledged today as a fact not just a theory and it is more advanced than the simple world systems theory
weaknesses:
It is still arguably quite basic and development is a spectrum not just categories

Question 31

what are the strengths and weaknesses of dependency theory ?

Answer 31

strengths:
other theories staet that countries always develop however this theory explains why poverty is maintained and there is still huge divide in the world
weaknesses:
It is very simple and that different countries have different levels of development rather than just 2 types

Question 32

what are the strengths and weaknesses of modernisation theory ?

Answer 32

strengths:
We have seen it is something that can happen with the rise of the ‘Asian tigers’
weaknesses:
it is very linear and not all countries will follow the exact same model. Countries could face problems such as debt and war