superpowers key notes Flashcards
what is a superpower
a nation with the ability to project its influence anywhere in the world and act as a dominant global force
what is reigional power
major influence at a continental but not global scale
what are the factors contributing to potential superpower status
MILITARY POWER
-to protect and project power
- size of armed forces
- military budget
- possesion of nuclear weapons
- use has highest budget
- china has largest armed forces
PHYSICAL SIZE
- often linked with resource access
- ability to influence neighboring countries
-russia covers 20% of land and has 14 land borders
ECONOMIC POWER
- needed to invest in tech and military
- worlds 10 largest economies earn 65% of global GDP
DEMOGRAPHIC
-population size
- influences economic growth
- eg availability of young work force
POLITICAL
- membership of organisations like WEF, UN security council
CULTURAL INFLUENCE
- appeal to a countries way of life and ideologies
what is soft power
the culture attractiveness of a nation
values and ideologies seen as attractive
what is hard power
- military action or threat of it
- creation of military and economic alliances
- use of economic sanctions
what is mackinders geo- strategic location theory
- 1904
- claimed that whoever controlled Europe and Asia controlled the world
- commanding Europe and russia makes national dominant power
- everything stems from controlling europe
- belived heartland could shift due to sea power
- acknowledged russia to be worlds supoerpower
what are the strengths and weaknesses of mackinders theory
pos
- some modern accuracy
- influential amongst politicians and influences strategic planning
neg
- ignored growth of US
- discounted influence of BRICS
what is the economic centre of gravity and how does it work
- shows how centre of economic power has changed since AD1
- centre is pulled towards region with largest GDP
- map shows importance of industrial rev and rise of US
- shift in 20th century- recovery of europe post WW2
- major shift since 2000 reflecting china growth
what is the difference between unipolar, bipolar and multipolar worlds
unipolar- dominance of one superpower
bipolar- existence of 2 superpowers and many worlds states align with one
multipolar- many powers compete for dominance in different reigions
what is colonialism
the direct political rule of a nation by another
what is neocolonialsim and what are some examples
indirect form of control
political independence but economical or cultural dependence
- strategic alliances ( military)
- aid
- TNC investment
- Terms of trade
- debt
what are the three developmental theories
franks dependency theory
wallersteins world system theory
rostows modernisation theory
what is the main idea of Franks dependency theory and what are the positives and negatives
- based on idea that core maintain wealth by keeping the periphery poor
- resources used by core
- any resistant from periphery often met with sanctions
- eg china in Africa
pos- evidence that it is correct
neg- south korea has shifted and china due to do the same
- too simplistic not all are one extreme
what is the main idea of Wallersteins world systems theory and what are the positives and negatives
- 1970s
- argued development should be seen as an economic system rather than looking at individual countries
- core need semi periphery to prevent others from turning on them
- use military power to keep status
- allows for movements between them
pos- less rigid than dependency theory
- benefits both sides
negative- ignores countries specific factors
- not acknowledge history of exploitation
what is the main idea of Rostows modernisation theory and what are the positives and negatives
- 5 stages of development
- trad society, pre conditions for takeoff, take off, drive to maturity, high mass consumption
- idea all countries should follow these stems to become ACs
- everyone can reach the top
pos- nobody is cut off and any country can do it
- vast majority of ACs followed this
neg- still western ideas
- not everyone can reach top- if all consumers who will provide
what are the roles of TNCs in helping to maintain superpower status
- help superpowers invent new tech through research
- help use soft power
- bring influence from countries they originate in
- dominance of USA
- account for more than 80% of global trade
- influence countries they opperate in
- build bridges between nations
what is cultural hegemony
dominance of one social group and its ideologies over other social groups
what are positives and negatives of capitalism
POSITIVES
- can earn lot of money
- generally better standard of living
- creates healthy competition
NEGATIVES
- large economic gap
- privatised industries with no competition
what are the arguments for pro westernisation
- spread of value of democracy across planet
- enables populations from diverse backgrounds
- celebrates differences
- incr understanding and acceptance
- more efficient ways of producting goods
- modernisation of medical practices
- icr employment
what are the arguments for anti westernisation
- threatens other cultures
- pakistan- unique cultural has been influenced
- pakistan tv shows now showing new clothing styles
- negative impact on kids - showing drugs and crime
- ruins traditional clothing in indian cultures
-impact on festivals - traditional languages fade away
- TNC take advantage
