Superpowers KQ1 Flashcards
Define superpower.
A country that can project its power and ideas globally, and influence other countries using its economic, political, military and social/cultural strengths.
Define emerging power.
Countries whose power is increasing, usually have some weakness in some areas in comparison to a superpower.
What are the 6 sources of power?
Economic Political Military Cultural Demographic Natural resources
What is hard power?
Using military and economic influence (trade deals and sanctions) to force another country to act in a particular way.
Can get better results but is expensive and risky.
Aggressor may lose allies and moral authority.
(Russia 2014 annexation of Crimea)
What is soft power?
Persuasion of countries to act in particular ways, on the basis that the persuader is respected and appealing. Includes political and cultural influence.
Soft power is low cost and is about creating alliances and friendly relations.
Direct power
What is geo-strategic location theory?
Persuaded the USA and other European countries that Russia needed to be contained.
Reinforced the idea that physical resources were important.
The heartland is very hard to invade due to physical barriers.
A power base in the heartland allows control of the world island which contains most of the worlds natural resources.
Direct/indirect power
The Cold War era case study.
Between 1945 and 1990
USA and USSR broadly equal in power but have opposing ideologies.
Predominantly direct power e.g Cuban missile crisis however I direct power became important.
USA and USSR sought allies among other countries through military alliances, used foreign aid to buy support of developing nations and provided support for corrupt regimes in return for support for the superpower.
Hard power
The Cuban missile crisis case study.
Cuban missi.e crisis of 1959 Cuba became a communist country and Soviets secretly placed nuclear missiles there. USA sent warships to surround Cuba. For 6 days nuclear war seemed possible. Soviet Union removed the missiles.
Hard power
The British empire case study.
The British rule in India lasted until 1947.
In 1875 Britain bought the biggest share in the Suez Canal and occupied Egypt.
The British east India company made money from importing tea and cotton from South Asia.
Royal Navy surrounded Indian ports showing a symbol of military power.
British traditions introduced such as cricket and tea drinking.
India was modernised, built 61,000km of railway by 1920 improving transport and trade.
Soft power
China in Africa case study.
Extension of neo-colonialism.
Expansion of trade and investment on the continent in return for its natural resources.
Spread of Chinese led infrastructure projects.
Soft power ranges from health, humanitarian assistance, to academic, professional and cultural exchange.
Planned to spend 20mill in South Africa on education.
Rising number of African entrepreneurs who choose to move to China and set up businesses.
What is a bipolar world?
Two opposing superpowers, with different ideologies but broadly equal in status.
Periods such as the Cold War are high risk.
What is a multipolar world?
Many broadly equal powers, with regional but less global influence.
Could create a power vacuum.
Who are the BRIC’S?
Brazil. Russia. India. China. South Africa.
What is the G20 summit?
Allowed emerging and less significant economies to gain power in global issues such as climate change.
Accounts for 85% of GDP and 2/3 of population.
No votes based on shares or economic criteria however Barack Obama dominated the 2014 Brisbane summit.
What are the strengths of Brazil?
It is the agricultural superpower dominating sugar, coffee and orange markets.
Host of 2014 World Cup and 2016 olympics.
Leads worlds renewable energy sector.
What are the weaknesses of Brazil?
Narrow economy based on farming and iron ore, causing boom and bust cycles.
Limited military strength.
What are the strengths of Russia?
Largest country.
One of first nuclear states.
Permanent member of UN Security Council.
Oil and gas reserves.
What are the weaknesses of Russia?
Sanctions of USA and EU due to annexation of Crimea in 2014.
Ageing, unhealthy population.
Weak infrastructure.
What are the strengths of India?
Well educated youthful population.
Strong IT sector (Bangalore)
Nuclear state with strong Military capacity.
What are the weaknesses of India?
Widespread poverty.
Inequality.
Poor infrastructure.
Lack of water resources.
What are the strengths of China?
Powerful manufacturing economy.
Fastest growing economy in world.
SEZ’s allowing FDI.
Nuclear state.
What are the weaknesses of China?
Lack of building and working regulations.
Ageing population.
Environmental degradation.
Development theories.
What is modernisation theory?
Countries move from underdevelopment to high mass consumption through 5 stages of development.
Once at high mass consumption the state will become democratic.
Economic development only begins when pre-conditions are met such as modern infrastructure, education and effective governance.
What is dependency theory?
Developed world keeps developing world in a permanent state of underdevelopment.
Draining them of natural resources and human capital.
Neo-colonialism is an extension of this theory.
What is world systems theory?
The world has 3 tiers which are all interlinked.
Semi-periphery where countries have moved away from poverty but are still not an economic core.
Economies go through boom and bust cycles called Kondratiev waves, with revolutions sparking periods of growth.
Geopolitical stability and risk.
What is a unipolar world?
One globally dominant superpower or hyper power (The British empire)
Should be stable but costs are high and hard to maintain.
