Superpowers EQ1 - Superpowers Flashcards

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1
Q

What is a superpower?

A

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

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2
Q

What is geopolitical power?

A

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

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3
Q

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

A

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)

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4
Q

What is a hyperpower, and what are some examples?

A

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

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5
Q

What are the 5 pillars of superpower status?

A

Economic
Military
Political
Cultural
Resources

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6
Q

How do the pillars of superpower status ensure power?

A

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)

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7
Q

What is a blue water navy?

A

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

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8
Q

What is diplomacy?

A

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

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9
Q

What is ideology?

A

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

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10
Q

What does hard power mean?

A

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

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11
Q

What does soft power mean?

A

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.

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12
Q

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

A

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

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13
Q

Is hard or soft power more effective?

A

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.

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14
Q

What are some examples of hard and soft power today?

A

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

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15
Q

What is Mackinder’s Heartland theory?

A

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

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16
Q

What was the influence of Mackinder’s Heartland theory?

A
  • persuaded USA, EU that Russia needed to be contained e.g. after WWI and WWII
  • reinforced idea that control of physical resources was important
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17
Q

Why might Mackinder’s Heartland theory now be outdated?

A
  • modern military technology can hit deep inside another country’s territory
  • physical resources are traded internationally
  • war and conflict are generally seen as abnormal
18
Q

What is a unipolar world?

A

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

19
Q

What is a bipolar world?

A

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

20
Q

What is a multipolar world?

A

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

21
Q

What is colonial control?

A

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

22
Q

What could be considered the high point of superpower polarity?

A

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

23
Q

What is acculturation?

A

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

24
Q

What are the 2 phases of empire building?

A

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

25
Q

Why did the post colonial era arrive?

A
  • 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
26
Q

Why was the Cold War a bipolar era?

A

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.

27
Q

What does sphere of influence mean?

A

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

28
Q

What is neo-colonialism?

A

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

29
Q

What are some possible mechanisms of neo-colonial control?

A
  • strategic alliances
  • aid (tied aid)
  • TNC investment
  • terms of trade
  • debt (debtor-creditor relationship forms)
30
Q

What is hegemony?

A

The dominance of a superpower over other countries

31
Q

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

A

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

32
Q

What are the weaknesses of the EU?

A
  • 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
33
Q

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

A

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

34
Q

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

A

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

35
Q

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

A

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

36
Q

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

A

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

37
Q

What is the modernisation theory, who developed it?

A

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

38
Q

What are the flaws of modernisation theory?

A

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

39
Q

What is the dependency theory and who developed it?

A

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

40
Q

What are the flaws of dependency theory?

A

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

41
Q

What is World Systems Theory and who developed it?

A

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

42
Q

What are the flaws of World Systems theory?

A

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