Yr 12 UCAS Superpowers Flashcards
Superpower definition
a nation or group of nations with a leading position in international politics
what are the economic characteristics of a superpower
High GDP and high levels of trade, influence over global trade
Home to TNCs
Hard currency held in reserve by other countries
what are the political characteristics of a superpower
Permanent seat on the UN Security Council together with powerful allies
Many multilateral agreements
what are the military characteristics of a superpower
Exporters of technology
Unparalleled intelligence networks
Could command global military control
High expenditure
what are the cultural characteristics of a superpower
long standing tradition and rich cultural history of way life of way of life voluntarily enjoyed by many around the world such as music and fashion
what are the demographic characteristics of a superpower
Significant percentage of global population
Attracts skilled migrants and other workers
what are the access to resources characteristics of a superpower
Able to export and control the supply of valuable commodities, or able to secure the resources it needs
On the other hand , multiple resources make a country less dependent on others
Occupying a world location that enables it to command influence
what are the features of soft power
History, Culture and Diplomacy
what are the features of hard power
military power and economic power
what is the geo strategic theory
The world is divided into three components: The World Island (Europe, Asia, Africa), Offshore Islands (British Isles and Japan), Outlying Islands (North South America and Australia), The heartland contains 50% of the world resources
what is colonialism
the policy or practice of acquiring full or partial political control over another country or territory, occupying it with settlers and using its resources for trade and economic gain
what is neo-colonial
the use of investment, trade and culture to influence independent countries of direct governance
how has the global pattern of power changed
a uni-polar (British Empire) to a bi-polar world (USA vs USSR) then back to a uni-polar world (USA), now its slowly evolving into a multi-power world
what ways do BRICS influence the World economically
Economic-only countries which have their economy worth over $1 trillion outside the OECD, however aging pop and slower growth rates
What ways do BRICS influence the world politically
due to manufacturing prices decreasing China has become a larger trader than imperial Britain
what ways do BRICS influence the world militarily
China spent $143 billion on their military in 2011
what ways do BRICS influence the world culturally
unable to have much of an impact due to differing cultures within and a lack of understanding
what ways do BRICS influence the world demographically
larger pop led to increase in unis an engineering graduates, china’s pop in 2017 1.4 billion and 34 unis, however dependency ratio increased
ways in which BRICS influence the world environmentally
3 of the top 4 polluting countries are BRICS
what way do G20 influence the world economically
little impact
what ways do G20 influence the world politically
G20 countries have begun to share financial information to help stop tax evasion
what ways do G20 influence the world militarily
G20 countries don’t always agree, for example in Syria
what ways do G20 influence the world culturally
indirectly support the spread of globalisation by encouraging trade between countries
what ways do G20 influence the world demographically
try to get private businesses to invest in infrastructure to help create economic growth, as well as trying to prevent youth unemployment
what ways do G20 influence the world environmentally
they’ve agreed on a ‘green stimulus package’ which is worth $1.1 trillion, also agreed to tackle and prevent climate change and tackle global health issues
what is the modernisation theory
used to explain the growth and dominance of the British Empire and the USA, stages include Traditional Society, Conditions for Take Off, Take Off, Drive to Maturity, High Mass consumption, Post- consumer society
what is the Dependency Theory
That TNC investment in developing countries led to the exploitation of skilled labour and cheap raw materials, as well as creating international debt, poorer countries dont have the means to resist exploitation
what is the world system theory
suggests that countries are stuck in a permanently underdeveloped state
what are the global actions of the four main superpowers
crisis response, conflict prevention, climate change mitigation
what is NATO
the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation, committed to defending against military incursion into any other member states, (France, UK, USA)
what is the aim of the UN
to prevent a recurrence of global conflict, by focusing on establishing fundamental human rights and equal rights for both men and women in all nations, used as a forum for member nations to express opinions
what is the UN security council
can authorise direct action to resolve conflict, either through economic sanctions, insisting on using the International Court of Justice, or by authorising military intervention
what is the international court of justice
resolve legal questions and dispute brought to it by UN member states
what are the four ways in which superpowers affect the environment
landscape scarring, fossil fuels, oil spills, removal of forests for food
what is China’s attitude to reducing its environmental impact
its use of natural resources is a source of national pride, never want to return to famine, agreement to cut CO2 emissions could limit economic growth, measure to protect the environment have started to be applied, and Chinese companies are now some of the biggest clean energy firms in the world
what is the EU’s attitude to reducing its environmental impact
Common Agricultural Policy encouraged farmers to grow food intensively, using chemical fertilizers and pesticides, which caused problems such as loss of hedgerows and eutrophication
what is Russia’s attitude towards reducing its environmental impact
taken a lead in reducing greenhouse emissions by using nanotechnologies, energy efficient laws, and other mandatory changes to energy consumption and production, has a surplus of carbon credits, production and exportation of natural gas provides it a source of political power which has allowed it to manipulate countries on its border
what is the USA’s attitude towards reducing its environmental impact
remains sceptical about the problems and consequences of climate change
what are the key points to talk about for the future of key resources
rare earths, food supply, water supply
how does counterfeiting affect the relationships between countries
can undermine the global system of intellectual property rights and patenting, straining trade relations and TNC investment, damage to brand and potentially endangering consumers can have long-term effects on the revenues of TNCs
hat are the ongoing economic problems faced by the EU and USA
debt, unemployment, economic restrictions, and social costs
what are the economic costs of maintaining global military power
Navy, Nuclear deterrent, air power, intelligence
what are the causes of insecurity in the Middle East
Religion, Resources, Oil and Gas, Governance, Youth, History
