Superpowers Lesson 2: Power and Maintenance of Superpower Flashcards
What is hard power?
The ability for a country or group of countries to use military force or direct economic influence to make another country accept a situation or idea
What is soft power?
The ability of a country or group of countries to persuade other countries to agree to a situation or idea by making it attractive
Give examples of hard power
Military action
Economic power
Examples of soft power
Culture
History
Diplomacy
2 examples of hard power
-USA invaded Kuwait in 1991 in response to Kuwait’s request for help, removing Saddam Hussein and Iraq in the Gulf War. Led to the removal of Saddam Hussein from power in 2003
-USA invaded Afghanistan in 2001 confronting the Taliban regime, which led to the death of Al-Qaeda leader, Osama bin Laden.
Example of economic power
-USA had a per capita income 4x higher than China in 2015
-USA is the largest trading partner, exporting high value goods and global brands
-USA home to the World Bank, IMF, and WTO, all significant in spreading Western influence
Example of culture
-BBC is a major international broadcaster
-English is the 2nd most spoken language after Mandarin
-London Olympics in 2012 showed Britain could hold international events and impact of Industrial Revolution on global innovation and technological advancement
Example of history
-Families from around the world send their children to study at UK and US universities like Oxford, Cambridge, Harvard and Yale
-British common law legal approach used around the world, as a model judicial system
Example of diplomacy
-British diplomats are well-respected and influential in imposing economic sanctions e.g. Russia’s involvment in Ukraine
-USA highly influential across history in forming peace agreements e.g. Versailles after WW1, Korea and Vietnam
