What are superpowers

Question 1

What are the characteristics of superpowers x6

Answer 1

Economic- High GDP/trade
Political- Permanent seat on UN agreement
Military- Weapons/personnel
Cultural- Long standing traditions music
Demographic- Significant % of global pop.
Access to resources- able to secure resources, less dependent on others

Question 2

How do superpowers maintain power (hard) x2

Answer 2

Military- (USA) exercised hard power by confronting the Taliban and dominant presence in Iraq 2003/ Afghanistan war/ Al-Qaeda

Economic power- (USA/China) USA is the largest trading partner for many countries as they export high value goods and many TNC’s Apple

Question 3

How do superpowers maintain power (soft) x3

Answer 3

History- (UK) students all over world want to study at Oxford/Cambridge. Relationships were established in the Commonwealth. Law system is modelled around the world as it is transparent

Culture- (UK) BBC international broadcaster and host major events such as Olympics and musical festivals which are attractive

Diplomacy- (UK) has one of the largest embassies, they are also widely respected/influential e.g imposing economic d=sanctions on Russia

Question 4

Explain the geostrategic theory

Answer 4

Belief that success depended on a strategic understanding of physical geography

To exert influence crucial for a country to control strategic areas of land

Examples: British empire
USA policy of containment for communism led to cold war

Question 5

Explain Mackinder’s pivot theory

Answer 5

Believed world was split into three components
-World Island: largest/wealthiest nations EU, Asia
-Off shore islands: British is;es/Japan
-Outlying islands: N/S America/ Australia

Question 6

Name the 3 patterns of control

Answer 6

Colonial (direct) control
Post war (indirect) control
Geopolitical stability/risk

Question 7

Explain how colonial (direct) control worked (refer British empire)

Answer 7

British empire showed colonial control by:

Extended 1/4 of land 1/5 of global pop.
Early colonial action settlements in Caribbean then moved to slave trade W/C Africa
Then launched trading companies to use resources tea/spices from India
Empire grew into NZ/Australia
In 1800’s Britain was an unchallenged superpower
Britain maintained power by developing countries India railway

Question 8

Why did the British empire collapse

Answer 8

Began facing competition by Germany and Middle East in 1914
Discontent in colonial regions: India over killing/massacre, other regions were declaring independence, growth of other nations Japan naval power

After WW2 GB was bankrupt led to collapse

Question 9

Name the 4 categories of post war (indirect) control

Answer 9

Military
Politically
Economically
Cultural

Question 10

Explain the four types of post war (indirect) control

Answer 10

Military- independence not easy accompanied w/ civil unrest (NI IRA terrorist campaign) GB uses military to influence other/collabs w/ USA Houthi Rebels

Politically- Cold war USA preventing spread of communism beyond China/Russia with a policy of containment

Economically- IMF/World Bank provide aid for developing countries however influences them to become pro-western due to “strings attached aid”

Culturally- spread of western culture through globalisation/internet/music

Question 11

Explain geopolitical stability and risk

Answer 11

Global pattern of power changed from unipolar to bipolar

Question 12

Define uni-polar

Answer 12

World where a country dominates global politically/economically/culture

Question 13

Define bi-polar

Answer 13

Where two countries either share/compete to have greater global influence

Question 14

Define multi-polar

Answer 14

World where several countries are highly influential globally economically/politically/cultural

Question 15

Define G20

Answer 15

The 20 richest countries in the world, they meet regularly to discuss key global economic issues (G20 summit)

G20 summit for recovery from global recession and to make decisions about economy/problems with ageing pop. While collaborating with World Bank/IMF

Question 16

Define BRIC

Answer 16

Considered a country with economic potential, representing the largest emerging economies but have small influence on World Bank/IMF

In 2014 created their own financial institution to increase their influence

Question 17

Name the 3 development theories

Answer 17

Modernisation theory
Dependency theory
World system theory

Question 18

Explain modernisation theory
(Walt Rostow)

Answer 18

5 step model explain growth/dominance of British empire/USA, this theory was necessary to reduce the spread of communism and increase in TNC investment improved superpower status

Question 19

What are the 6 steps in the modernisation theory

Answer 19

Traditional society- subsistence farming

Conditions for take off- profits form farming/ improved infrastructure

Take off- rapid growth of manufactured industry (industrial revo), cultural change

Drive to maturity- new ideas/tech improves and replaces industrial sectors

High mass consumption- more wealth/services trade expands and links form

Post consumer society- people maximise leisure at home, industries become automated, internet creates strong links

Question 20

Explain dependency theory
(Andre Frank)

Answer 20

Believed that TNC investment in developing countries leads to exploitation of labour/materials. Known as development of the underdeveloped because poorer countries don’t have skill/institutions to resist exploitation.

Graph shows how each industry goes through same cycle as new industries are developed

Question 21

Explain world system theory
(Immanuel Wallerstein)

Answer 21

Takes into account a wider perspective by dividing the globe into three sections where countries compete politically/economically:

Developed core
Developing periphery
Semi-periphery (tensions may occur) BRIC

Theory explains how economy moves in 50-60 year cycles followed by recessions and economic growth from new industries