Superpowers: EQ1

Question 1

Define what a superpower is:

Answer 1

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

Question 2

Who are the BRIC countries?

Answer 2

Brazil, Russia, India, China.

Question 3

What are BRIC countries classed as?

Answer 3

The BRIC countries are classed as emerging superpowers, not yet developed enough to be categorized as superpowers in their own right.

Question 4

What are the six pillars of a superpower?

Answer 4

1. Military
2. Economic
3. Political
4. Cultural
5. Demographic
6. Resources

Question 5

How much does the USA spend on their military each day?

Answer 5

$2.7 billion

Question 6

Which kind of countries normally spend more on their armed forces? Why do they do this?

Answer 6

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.

Question 7

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:

Answer 7

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.

Question 8

What are some advantages of using a multiple index to measure a superpower?

Answer 8

1. Better representation of reality.

2. More well-rounded.

Question 9

What are some disadvantages of using a multiple index to measure a superpower?

Answer 9

1. Could be outdated.
2. Does it show all aspects?
3. Ranking could show differences that are too small to assess.

Question 10

Which countries make up the UN security council?

Answer 10

China, Russia, UK, USA and France.

Question 11

Why is soft power preferred to hard power, more, now?

Answer 11

• It is expensive.
• Not seen as acceptable anymore.
• More countries have military capability.
• Can limit the countries development.

Question 12

Define soft power:

Answer 12

Is exerting influence through favour and persuasion, and is therefore likely to be based on cultural power.

Question 13

Define hard power:

Answer 13

Power through force or coercion and is likely to involve military power or economic sanctions.

Question 14

Is economic a form of soft or hard power?

Answer 14

Neither. It is seen to lie in the middle of the two poles.

Question 15

Which is arguably the most important factor of power? Why?

Answer 15

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.

Question 16

Define hegemony:

Answer 16

Leadership or dominance, especially by one state or organisation.

Question 17

What is China’s great road theory?

Answer 17

China is building loads of roads to encourage trade. with other countries to them.

Question 18

Why does a modern superpower need to use both hard and soft power?

Answer 18

Superpowers really need to be smart superpowers and use both types of power as each has its advantages and disadvantages.

Question 19

How much of the population and landmass did the British Empire once control?

Answer 19

1/4

Question 20

Who are the MINT countries?

Answer 20

Mexico, Indonesia, Nigeria and Turkey.

Question 21

Why is hard power now, almost, obsolete?

Answer 21

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).

Question 22

What are some advantages of using an index when evaluating a superpower?

Answer 22

• Better representation of reality.

- More well-rounded.

Question 23

What are some disadvantages of using an index when evaluating a superpower?

Answer 23

• 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?

Question 24

Which countries hold permanent seats on the UN council (and thus arguably the most powerful)?

Answer 24

France, UK, USA, Russia and China.

Question 25

What are some advantages of using economic sanctions on countries?

Answer 25

Could manipulate them into becoming dependent on other countries and thus under subtle control of them.

Question 26

What are some disadvantages of using economic sanctions on countries?

Answer 26

Could push the country into isolation.

For example North Korea is now ruled by a dictator as they were pushed into being self-dependant.

Question 27

What is an example of an economic sanction?

Answer 27

Stopping trade with the country.

Question 28

What is a uni-ploar world?

Answer 28

A world with a single, dominant superpower.

Question 29

What is a bi-polar world?

Answer 29

A world with two dominant superpowers e.g. Russia and the USA during the Cold War.

Question 30

What it a multi-polar world?

Answer 30

A world with a multitude of powers dominant.

Question 31

Define neo-colonialism:

Answer 31

The use of economic, political and cultural power to influence other countries.

Question 32

Define geopolitical:

Answer 32

Referring to the influence of geographical factors on international relations.

Question 33

Define direct control:

Answer 33

Maintaining control through hard power e.g. colonialism.

Question 34

Define indirect control:

Answer 34

Maintaining control through soft power e.g. neo-colonialism.

Question 35

Define colonialism:

Answer 35

The acquisition of political control over a territory by another country, and the subsequent settlement of that territory.

Question 36

Define regional power:

Answer 36

A state or organisation with a sphere of influence that tends to be continental rather than global.

Question 37

What was the Cold War?

Answer 37

A time of geopolitical tension during the bi-polar period of the USA and Russia - a stalemate.

Question 38

Why did the Cold War begin?

Answer 38

Because the US and Russia were ideologically opposed. The states supported capitalism whilst Russia supported communism.

Question 39

What were two key events during the Cold War?

Answer 39

1. Cuban Missile Crisis.

2. The Space Race.

Question 40

Why did the Cold War end?

Answer 40

Russia’s economy collapsed.

Question 41

What is tied aid?

Answer 41

Aid that is given to a country but that has to be spent in a certain way.

Question 42

Is tied aid a form of hard or soft power? Why?

Answer 42

It is hard power because the country the aid is given too doesn’t have choice on what to spend it on.