The Role of Superpowers Flashcards
Sources of Power for Superpowers
The physical size of a country/the land area- more likely to have resources and more likely to be self sufficient.
Resources People- demography, population sizes- lots of workers, lots of consumers, lots of people to go into the military, ageing population?
Economic wealth- size, gdp, structure, economy based on a range of different areas.
Military power, nuclear power- military power is increasingly becoming less important.
Shared values- religion, politics, communism vs capitalism, global capitalism is the dominant belief system in the world’s economy- this benefits the USA
Cultural hegemony- best way to obtain power is by consent- agreement and sharing of beliefs and buy in to ideas.
What was the Cold War?
The Cold War was the geopolitical, ideological, and economic struggle between two world superpowers, the USA and the USSR, that started in 1947 at the end of the Second World War and lasted until the dissolution of the Soviet Union on December 26, 1991.The Soviet Union was trying to gain total power and take over all of Europe and encouraged communism.
Is the EU a threat to the USA?
The EU are very powerful due to the fact they are a large group of countries working together- this means they have a higher GDP than the USA, a much greater population size and a larger military budget. Based on this, the EU can be considered a threat. However, the US and the EU are allied and so a conflict is unlikely.
Is Brazil a threat to the USA?
Brazil is a rapidly growing economic power that has the potential to be of threat to the USA in coming years with the increase in population, wealth and military power. However, no conflict has taken place in the past between the two so a conflict is unlikely.
Is Russia a threat to the USA?
Between the two of them, Russia and America control over 90% of the world’s nuclear weapons. It also has a large population with a significant military power which is potentially a large threat to the USA.
Is India a threat to the USA?
The military power of India is rapidly growing and more and more money is being invested in aircraft, tanks and weapons as the economy grows stronger. However due to the fact no conflict has taken place in the past and they are allied a conflict is unlikely and so pose little threat.
Is China a threat to the USA?
While China’s military is growing, America’s is shrinking. China is also a very wealthy country with the largest population in the world. China also has considerable strength in many military fields including, land systems such as tanks and other armoured vehicles, air power and naval power. It is also a country allied with North Korea, a foe of the USA
Chinese in Angola
Growth of investment in Angola has led to a growth of trade and allows the country to develop- China gets a market for their resources. Chinese workers don’t go out and spend their money- little positive multiplier effect.Investment acts as a catalyst for development, improving transport, e.g railways and encouraging investment from other companies and countries. Independent traders come with the investment.
How have superpowers changed over time?
In personnel- the line up of superpowers changesIn nature- their sources of powerThe way they influence- the impacts they have
Key IGO’s- What are they?
IMF- International Monetary Fund WB- World Bank UN- United Nations WTO- World Trade Organisation NATO- North Atlantic Treaty Organisation OECD- Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
What is cultural hegemony?
Cultural Hegemony- the best way to manipulate is to get them to share your beliefs/culture. A global culture of... Consumerism Capitalism Western values Western icons
What is Cultural Imperialism?
The enforced or voluntary spread of one country’s culture.
Americanisation example?
Indian and Mcdonald’s- “Chicken Maharaja Mac”- adapting to local conditions.
How do superpowers control trade?
TNCs global but based in superpowers- HQ- politicians and businessmen can interactTrade blocs- enable free trade, countries within them benefit, protected from imports from abroad.
Terms of trade (primary products do not increase as much as manufactured goods)
Control of innovation (research & development) (the next big product) and TRIPS (trade related intellectual property rights)
Commodity exchanges in MEDCs- Poorer countries often trade in commodities- raw materials, globally- prices set however by the superpowers
Currencies- Most money set in dollars- US controls this and so has an influence on world trade. Direct investment- by controlling direct investment superpowers can heavily influence world trade.
Terms of trade
Richer countries produce manufactured, high tech goods. Poorer countries export mainly primary goods.The cost of primary goods never increases at the same rate as manufactured goods- that difference is called the terms of trade.
