Superpowers EQ1 - Superpowers

Question 1

What is a superpower?

Answer 1

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

Question 2

What is geopolitical power?

Answer 2

Political power linked to geographic space, as there are a large number of geographic influences on power relationships in international relations

Question 3

What are the human and physical characteristics of superpowers that cause geopolitical power?

Answer 3

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)

Question 4

What is a hyperpower, and what are some examples?

Answer 4

An unchallenged superpower that is dominant in all aspects of power
e.g. USA from 1990-2010 or Britain from 1850-1910

Question 5

What are the 5 pillars of superpower status?

Answer 5

Economic
Military
Political
Cultural
Resources

Question 6

How do the pillars of superpower status ensure power?

Answer 6

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)

Question 7

What is a blue water navy?

Answer 7

One which can deploy into the open ocean rather than only littoral waters (this is a green water navy)

Question 8

What is diplomacy?

Answer 8

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

Question 9

What is ideology?

Answer 9

A set of belief, values and opinions held by the majority of people in a society.

Question 10

What does hard power mean?

Answer 10

Using military and economic influence (trade deals, sanctions) to force a country to act in a particular way.

Question 11

What does soft power mean?

Answer 11

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.

Question 12

Who gave the idea of hard vs soft power, and what was their idea of the most powerful countries’ utilisation of this?

Answer 12

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

Question 13

Is hard or soft power more effective?

Answer 13

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.

Question 14

What are some examples of hard and soft power today?

Answer 14

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

Question 15

What is Mackinder’s Heartland theory?

Answer 15

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

Question 16

What was the influence of Mackinder’s Heartland theory?

Answer 16

• persuaded USA, EU that Russia needed to be contained e.g. after WWI and WWII
• reinforced idea that control of physical resources was important

Question 17

Why might Mackinder’s Heartland theory now be outdated?

Answer 17

• modern military technology can hit deep inside another country’s territory
• physical resources are traded internationally
• war and conflict are generally seen as abnormal

Question 18

What is a unipolar world?

Answer 18

A world dominated by one superpower e.g. the British Empire

Question 19

What is a bipolar world?

Answer 19

A world where 2 superpowers with opposing ideologies vie for power e.g. the USA and USSR during the Cold War

Question 20

What is a multipolar world?

Answer 20

A world where many superpowers and emerging powers compete for power in different regions

Question 21

What is colonial control?

Answer 21

The direct control exerted over territories conquered by mainly European powers in the period 1600-1900. They were ruled by force

Question 22

What could be considered the high point of superpower polarity?

Answer 22

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

Question 23

What is acculturation?

Answer 23

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

Question 24

What are the 2 phases of empire building?

Answer 24

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

Question 25

Why did the post colonial era arrive?

Answer 25

• 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

Question 26

Why was the Cold War a bipolar era?

Answer 26

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.

Question 27

What does sphere of influence mean?

Answer 27

The geographical area over which a powerful country can assert its authority

Question 28

What is neo-colonialism?

Answer 28

Indirect mechanism where developed countries continue to control ex colonies/less developed nations through indirect control (persistent dominance)

Question 29

What are some possible mechanisms of neo-colonial control?

Answer 29

• strategic alliances
• aid (tied aid)
• TNC investment
• terms of trade
• debt (debtor-creditor relationship forms)

Question 30

What is hegemony?

Answer 30

The dominance of a superpower over other countries

Question 31

What are the 2 groups of countries from which future superpowers may emerge?

Answer 31

BRIC: Brazil, Russia, China, India
G20: made up of 19 countries plus the EU (world’s major and systematically important economies)

Question 32

What are the weaknesses of the EU?

Answer 32

• 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

Question 33

What are the strengths and weaknesses of Brazil as an emerging superpower?

Answer 33

STRENGTHS - strong agricultural economy and exporter, growing middle class, culturally influential
WEAKNESSES - small military, economy suffers from boom and bust phases, over deforestation

Question 34

What are the strengths and weaknesses of Russia as an emerging superpower?

Answer 34

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

Question 35

What are the strengths and weaknesses of India as an emerging superpower?

Answer 35

STRENGTHS - youthful population, English is widely spoken, nuclear armed
WEAKNESSES - possible future resource shortages, high levels of poverty, poor transport and energy infrastructure

Question 36

What are the strengths and weaknesses of China as an emerging superpower?

Answer 36

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

Question 37

What is the modernisation theory, who developed it?

Answer 37

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

Question 38

What are the flaws of modernisation theory?

Answer 38

The theory only really describes the process of economic change and growth and includes no political/cultural aspects

Question 39

What is the dependency theory and who developed it?

Answer 39

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

Question 40

What are the flaws of dependency theory?

Answer 40

It is very static, suggesting countries are stuck in a permanently undeveloped state - but many NICs have broken free and developed

Question 41

What is World Systems Theory and who developed it?

Answer 41

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

Question 42

What are the flaws of World Systems theory?

Answer 42

It is more of analysis of the world’s patterns of power and wealth rather than a detailed explanation of them