Unit 7 - Superpowers

Question 1

What are the 5 things that define a superpower?

Answer 1

1. A leader
2. Economic influence
3. Political influence
4. Strong international alliances
5. Strong military

Question 2

Superpower definition

Answer 2

A national with the means to project its power and influence anywhere in the world, and to be a dominant global force, this demands huge resources so true superpowers are rare.

Question 3

Emerging superpowers definition

Answer 3

Recognition of the rising, primarily economic, influence of a nation - or union of nations which has steadily increased their performance.

Question 4

BRICS countries

Answer 4

Brazil
Russia
India
China
South Africa

Question 5

Hyperpower

Answer 5

An unchallenged superpower that is dominant in all aspects of power e.g USA 1990-2010 + Britain 1850-1950.

Question 6

Hard power

Answer 6

• military strength + power
• military threat
• creation of alliances economic and military to manipulate nations
• sanctions to damage a nations economy

Question 7

Economic power

Answer 7

• money + resources
• economic or development aid from on nation to another
• favourable trade agreements

Question 8

Soft power

Answer 8

• cultural attractiveness of nations making it more likely they offer that others will follow
• the value and ideology of some nations being seen as appealing
• the moral authority of a nations foreign policy

Question 9

Power summary (Hard, soft, economic and smart)

Answer 9

. Soft power is the power of persuasion some countries can make others follow their lead by making polices attractive and appealing.
. Hard power is the opposite
. Economic power is sitting in the middle
. Smart power is the combination of them

Question 10

Pilars of power CULTURAL

Answer 10

Long standing tradition and rich cultural history or way of life voluntarily enjoyed by many around the world e.g music & fashion

Question 11

Pilars of power POLITICAL

Answer 11

Permanent seat on the UN Security Council, together with powerful allies, many multilateral agreements.

Question 12

Pilars of power RESOURCES

Answer 12

Able to export and control the supply of valuable commodities, e.g. oil, or able to secure the resources it needs. On the other hand multiple resources make a country less dependent on others e.g. energy security occupying a world location that enables it to command influence.

Question 13

Pilars of power ECONOMIC STRENGTH

Answer 13

High GDP and high levels of trade, including influence over global trade home to many TNCs.

Hard currency held in reserve by other countries.

Question 14

Pilars of power DEMOGRAPHIC

Answer 14

Significant % of global population.

Attracts skilled migrants and other workers.

Question 15

Pilars of power MILITARY STRENGTH

Answer 15

High expenditure largest amount of hardware and personnel including nuclear weapons.

Exports of technology.

Unparalleled intelligence networks.

Could command global military control.

Question 16

US overseas military (CS)

Answer 16

. 34 military sites in Africa - only 4 disclosed.
. Power projection = the ability for a nation to apply all or some of its element on national power.
- political
- economic
- informational
- military
. Large competition - china & Russia
. Okinawans and the US military tension as US military takes up a large proportion of the land space + military
. Country view it as a good thing due to protection, locals view it as a burden.
. US tax payers feel there taxes are being used to protect other countries.

Question 17

Spectrum of power

Answer 17

Hard power.

Military:
- military action or the threat of it
- military alliances such as NATO
- diplomatic threats to use force if negotiation fails
- using economic sanctions against countries

Economic aid and trade:
- favouring certain trade partners
- trade blocs and alliances
- giving allies economic and technical help
- using aid to influence policy

Culture & ideology:
- using the media to promote a particular image & message
- the value & ideology of some nations are seen as appealing
- exporting culture in the form of film and tv, or globally recognised brands

Soft power.

Question 18

Maintaining power

Question 19

Changing mechanisms of power

Question 20

Mackinders geographical pivot theory (CS)

Question 21

Colonial rule

Question 22

Imperialism

Question 23

Colonisation

Question 24

Importance of navy and military hard power

Question 25

Uni-polar

Question 26

Bi-polar

Question 27

Multi-polar

Question 28

India- controlling colonies (CS)

Question 29

Empire justification - MODERNISM

Question 30

Empire justification - EVANGELICAL CHRISTIANITY & SOCIAL DARWINSIM

Question 31

The fall of the British empire (CS)