Superpowers EQ1 - Superpowers Flashcards
What is a superpower?
A nation with the ability to project it’s influence anywhere in the world and be a dominant global force
What is geopolitical power?
Political power linked to geographic space, as there are a large number of geographic influences on power relationships in international relations
What are the human and physical characteristics of superpowers that cause geopolitical power?
PHYSICAL = geographic location, resources (Mackinder’s Heartland theory)
HUMAN = demographic weight, cultural influence, economic and military strength
Geopolitical power cannot come from just one facet of power but is at its highest when a range of human and physical characteristics are used in a strategic way ( hard + soft = smart)
What is a hyperpower, and what are some examples?
An unchallenged superpower that is dominant in all aspects of power
e.g. USA from 1990-2010 or Britain from 1850-1910
What are the 5 pillars of superpower status?
Economic
Military
Political
Cultural
Resources
How do the pillars of superpower status ensure power?
Economic - prerequisite of power, enables the others
Military - used to achieve geopolitical goals and as a bargaining chip
Political - ability to influence others through diplomacy
Cultural - appeal of nation’s way of life to others
Resources - both physical and human (demographic weight)
What is a blue water navy?
One which can deploy into the open ocean rather than only littoral waters (this is a green water navy)
What is diplomacy?
The negotiation and decision making that takes place between nations as part of international relations, leading to agreements/treaties
What is ideology?
A set of belief, values and opinions held by the majority of people in a society.
What does hard power mean?
Using military and economic influence (trade deals, sanctions) to force a country to act in a particular way.
What does soft power mean?
More subtle persuasion of countries to act in a particular way, on the basis that the persuader is respected and appealing. Includes political persuasion (diplomacy) and cultural influence.
Who gave the idea of hard vs soft power, and what was their idea of the most powerful countries’ utilisation of this?
Joseph Nye
He argued that the most powerful countries use ‘smart power’ which is a combination of both hard and soft mechanisms to get their own way
Is hard or soft power more effective?
Hard power has become less important over time - threats of military actions are now expensive and risky, and may lead to a loss of allies (illegal).
Soft power applied well is lower cost and can spread to other countries due to the relations it builds - but depends on persuasive power of country’s culture.
What are some examples of hard and soft power today?
HARD: USA - in 2003 invaded Iraq in the Second Gulf War when economic sanctions (softer power) failed to persuade President Saddam Hussein to change policy.
SOFT: UK - BBC world service, 5th largest economy in world, large network of diplomacy
What is Mackinder’s Heartland theory?
Identified an area of Eurasia as ‘Heartland’ which was a key geo strategic location in the world due to it’s protection from invasion by the sea and also because it commanded a huge portion of the world’s physical and human resources
What was the influence of Mackinder’s Heartland theory?
- persuaded USA, EU that Russia needed to be contained e.g. after WWI and WWII
- reinforced idea that control of physical resources was important
Why might Mackinder’s Heartland theory now be outdated?
- modern military technology can hit deep inside another country’s territory
- physical resources are traded internationally
- war and conflict are generally seen as abnormal
What is a unipolar world?
A world dominated by one superpower e.g. the British Empire
What is a bipolar world?
A world where 2 superpowers with opposing ideologies vie for power e.g. the USA and USSR during the Cold War
What is a multipolar world?
A world where many superpowers and emerging powers compete for power in different regions
What is colonial control?
The direct control exerted over territories conquered by mainly European powers in the period 1600-1900. They were ruled by force
What could be considered the high point of superpower polarity?
The British Empire
Britain, a relatively small country managed to maintain a global empire ruling over 20% of the world’s population and 25% of world land area
What is acculturation?
A process of cultural change that takes place when 2 different cultures meet and interact. It includes the transfer of a dominant culture’s ideas onto a subordinate culture
What are the 2 phases of empire building?
Mercantile phrase - small colonies are conquered, and the forts and navy protect trade in raw materials and slaves.
Imperial phase - coastal colonies extend inland, technology used to connect distant parts of the empire, government institutions are set up to rule
Why did the post colonial era arrive?
- post war bankruptcy meant there was no money to run or defend colonies
- focus on post war reconstruction at home meant that colonies were viewed as less important
- anti-colonial movements grew increasingly strong along with demands for independence
Why was the Cold War a bipolar era?
The USA became an increasingly global superpower with worldwide military bases aimed at containing the USSR and preventing the spread of communism. Whilst the USSR built a contiguous core of countries it allied with or invaded.
What does sphere of influence mean?
The geographical area over which a powerful country can assert its authority
What is neo-colonialism?
Indirect mechanism where developed countries continue to control ex colonies/less developed nations through indirect control (persistent dominance)
What are some possible mechanisms of neo-colonial control?
- strategic alliances
- aid (tied aid)
- TNC investment
- terms of trade
- debt (debtor-creditor relationship forms)
What is hegemony?
The dominance of a superpower over other countries
What are the 2 groups of countries from which future superpowers may emerge?
BRIC: Brazil, Russia, China, India
G20: made up of 19 countries plus the EU (world’s major and systematically important economies)
What are the weaknesses of the EU?
- the 27 nations rarely agree easily, so most EU decisions are compromises that weaken it’s ‘global message’
- the EU has been weak since the global financial crisis of 2007-8
- ageing population means high social costs
What are the strengths and weaknesses of Brazil as an emerging superpower?
STRENGTHS - strong agricultural economy and exporter, growing middle class, culturally influential
WEAKNESSES - small military, economy suffers from boom and bust phases, over deforestation
What are the strengths and weaknesses of Russia as an emerging superpower?
STRENGTHS - nuclear power, large military, huge oil and gas reserves, permanent seat on UN security council
WEAKNESSES - ageing and declining population, extreme levels of inequality, difficult diplomatic and geopolitical relationships
What are the strengths and weaknesses of India as an emerging superpower?
STRENGTHS - youthful population, English is widely spoken, nuclear armed
WEAKNESSES - possible future resource shortages, high levels of poverty, poor transport and energy infrastructure
What are the strengths and weaknesses of China as an emerging superpower?
STRENGTHS - highly educated, technically innovative population, soon to be world’s largest economy
WEAKNESSES - soon to be ageing population, tense relationships with neighbours, plays a limited geopolitical role
What is the modernisation theory, who developed it?
WW Rostow
Argued that countries develop in 5 stages, and that pre-industrial societies would develop very slowly until certain pre-conditions for economic take-off were met.
Conditions included: exports of raw materials, development of key infrastructure, widespread technology, education and governance - leading to an even pattern of power
What are the flaws of modernisation theory?
The theory only really describes the process of economic change and growth and includes no political/cultural aspects
What is the dependency theory and who developed it?
Andre Gunder Frank
‘Satellite’ (periphery) countries providing a range of services to ‘metropolitan’ (core) countries
This suggests the superpowers that control LICs/NEEs are gaining economic wealth and power by exploiting them - locking them into perpetual dependency, reinforcing inequalities and uneven patterns of power
What are the flaws of dependency theory?
It is very static, suggesting countries are stuck in a permanently undeveloped state - but many NICs have broken free and developed
What is World Systems Theory and who developed it?
Immanuel Wallerstein
Created 3 broad economic development categories: core regions (USA, EU), semi-periphery regions (the NICs of Asia) and periphery regions (the rest of the developing world). Stressed that development should be viewed in a global economic context - and that countries may change group over time. Reinforcement of inequalities as rich countries aim to keep poor countries poor
What are the flaws of World Systems theory?
It is more of analysis of the world’s patterns of power and wealth rather than a detailed explanation of them
