Superpowers: EQ1 Flashcards
Define what a superpower is:
A superpower is a nation with the ability to project its influence anywhere in the world and be a dominant force.
Who are the BRIC countries?
Brazil, Russia, India, China.
What are BRIC countries classed as?
The BRIC countries are classed as emerging superpowers, not yet developed enough to be categorized as superpowers in their own right.
What are the six pillars of a superpower?
- Military
- Economic
- Political
- Cultural
- Demographic
- Resources
How much does the USA spend on their military each day?
$2.7 billion
Which kind of countries normally spend more on their armed forces? Why do they do this?
Normally LIC’s or dictated countries. This is because the leaders spend lots of money to prevent a revolution so, they remain poor. The country becomes locked in a spiral of military spending.
What process has allowed countries to become (emerging) superpowers? How has it done this?
Give an example of a country it has done this for:
Global shift. The shifts in employment their economy has grown. They can then buy military resources etc. which can increase their world standing.
China is an example.
What are some advantages of using a multiple index to measure a superpower?
- Better representation of reality.
2. More well-rounded.
What are some disadvantages of using a multiple index to measure a superpower?
- Could be outdated.
- Does it show all aspects?
- Ranking could show differences that are too small to assess.
Which countries make up the UN security council?
China, Russia, UK, USA and France.
Why is soft power preferred to hard power, more, now?
- It is expensive.
- Not seen as acceptable anymore.
- More countries have military capability.
- Can limit the countries development.
Define soft power:
Is exerting influence through favour and persuasion, and is therefore likely to be based on cultural power.
Define hard power:
Power through force or coercion and is likely to involve military power or economic sanctions.
Is economic a form of soft or hard power?
Neither. It is seen to lie in the middle of the two poles.
Which is arguably the most important factor of power? Why?
Economic power is seen as the most important pillar, because: it aids political power, you can buy resources, you can pay for internal factors e.g. the military, gives you influence.
Define hegemony:
Leadership or dominance, especially by one state or organisation.
What is China’s great road theory?
China is building loads of roads to encourage trade. with other countries to them.
Why does a modern superpower need to use both hard and soft power?
Superpowers really need to be smart superpowers and use both types of power as each has its advantages and disadvantages.
How much of the population and landmass did the British Empire once control?
1/4
Who are the MINT countries?
Mexico, Indonesia, Nigeria and Turkey.
Why is hard power now, almost, obsolete?
Not seen as culturally and politically acceptable anymore. Also it is expensive and taxing on resources.
More nuclear weapons, countries are more apprehensive about hard power.
Globalisation means we are more interlinked, it affects lots of countries which will have issues with you (allies).
What are some advantages of using an index when evaluating a superpower?
- Better representation of reality.
- More well-rounded.
What are some disadvantages of using an index when evaluating a superpower?
- Depends on the measures, how good are they?
- Are they outdated?
- Does it show all aspects?
- Do the ranking really show differences that can be assessed?
- How accurate is the weighted rank?
Which countries hold permanent seats on the UN council (and thus arguably the most powerful)?
France, UK, USA, Russia and China.
