2.3 Superpowers Flashcards
Define superpower
- a nation which has the ability to project its influence around the world.
- This global influence means they have a big say in decision making and they are often a global force for change.
What are the four pillars of superpower status?
- economic
- military
- political and ideology
- cultural
Describe economic superpower status
- A large economy enables a nation to control trade.
- They can also use their money to invest in a strong military force and exploit natural resources.
- They may also own the debt of other nations thereby having power over them.
Describe military superpower status
- A nation can use their military to threaten or invade other countries (hard power)
- or to achieve geo-political goals (such as UN Peacekeeping Missions).
Describe political and ideological superpower status
- The ability to influence other countries in a way which suits their desires or match their political systems.
- Ideology is closely linked with politics, as many states may force their ideology through policies
Describe cultural superpower status
- Projecting a nation’s cultural values on others can change the way other populations think and align their ideology with the superpower’s culture.
- Culture is often spread via social media, films, music, food, art etc.
- The westernisation of culture is an important aspect of power.
How can physical resources be used for superpower status?
- Physical resources like oil and gas (if a nation has the means to exploit them) can help a nation develop their economy and therefore their economic power through trade.
- If these countries are dependent on the superpower for their natural resources then the superpower will have power over them e.g. Russia providing gas to Europe.
How can human resources be used for superpower status?
- A large human workforce if utilised properly can help to develop a nation’s economy.
- For example, the emerging superpowers China and India both have large populations which are being used in manufacturing to develop their economies.
Describe the power spectrum
The Power Spectrum describes the different approaches a country may have in influencing their power or culture on another.
Describe hard power
Using military and direct political intervention to change or influence the behaviour of other countries.
● Military action
● Threat of trade restrictions (embargos)
● Use of economic sanctions to damage a nation’s economy
● Owning the debt of other countries
Describe soft power
Attracting national governments and individuals to their country through:
● Attractive culture & lifestyle
● Sought-after political advice
● Foreign policies that encourage migration
● Trade alliances
● Foreign direct investment in business, infrastructure or facilities
Describe Mackinder’s Geo-Strategic Location Theory (3)
- The British geographer Mackinder classified a region of Eurasia as the ‘Heartland’.
- This area stretches from Russia to China and from the Arctic to the Himalayas.
- He argued that the Heartland was a geo-strategic location because whoever controlled it would control large amount of physical and human resources.
How has Mackinder’s theory influenced geopolitics?
The theory was influential because it contributed to policies of containment:
- After WWI, attempts were made to limit Germany’s expansion into this strategic area.
- After WWII, NATO allies tried to contain the Soviets from expanding into south and west Europe
Arguments against Mackinder’s theory (3)
- as technology has advanced and made transportation easier the shrinking world has reduced the locational importance of the Heartland.
- Resources can easily be transported around the world, advances in military technology means armies can have more global influence without needing to colonise other nations.
- This has allowed nations such as America, which is on the exterior of the Heartland, to take over centre stage as a global Superpower.
Describe Wallerstein’s World Systems Theory
- The World Systems Theory identifies two different economic areas within the world - the core and the periphery.
- Core regions are economic powerhouses and therefore control most aspects of global trade such as trade agreements and trading currency.
- The core regions trade with those in the periphery who often provide labour and materials for the core nations
Describe trade between core and periphery countries (4)
- The periphery - often at their expense - must mine, farm, or extract natural resources for the core.
- The periphery sells their primary resources to the core. They also provide skilled workers through international outward migration.
- The core manufactures, which adds value to the goods.
- The core provides consumption goods to periphery countries, often at their own profit.
How does Wallerstein’s World Systems Theory explain inequality in development?
- In the past relationships between the core and periphery were purely exploitative (colonialism) and the periphery was forced to provide their natural resources through means of hard power such as military force or occupation.
- For example, the British Empire’s exploitation of India for natural resources. In more recent times this relationship centres around trade agreements (soft power) which often benefit the core regions more than they benefit the periphery.
Describe Rostow’s modernisation theory
Rostow believed that countries pass through five stages as they grow economically and become developed
Describe stage 1 of Rostow’s modernisation theory
- Traditional Society - The country’s economy is based predominantly on primary industry - agriculture, small-scale mining, foraging and fishing.
- There is minimal technology or scientific knowledge which protects the country’s traditional culture, religion and values.
Describe stage 2 of Rostow’s modernisation theory
- Pre-conditions for Take Off - There is a demand for raw materials and trade by external countries.
- A rise in construction of infrastructure will lead to an increase in businesses and FDI.
- Gradually, the industry centres around manufacturing rather than agriculture as individual families can earn more money from a reliable job (unlike agriculture which is seasonal and can be affected by extreme weather) .
Describe stage 3 of Rostow’s modernisation theory
- Take Off - Here there is rapid Industrialisation, creating a large surge of employment opportunities and productivity.
- Take-off can also be a period of environmental degradation, as the nation lacks laws to protect its natural surroundings and people from exploitation
Describe stage 4 of Rostow’s modernisation theory
- This is often fuelled by relaxed laws and regulations protecting the natural son accelerates.
- Drive to Maturity - Over a period of time, the growing economy will encourage new industries and investment, creating further jobs, improving services through increased tax.
- This is a positive feedback mechanism of gradually improving living conditions.
Describe stage 5 of Rostow’s modernisation theory
- Developed countries, in Rostow’s opinion, are countries who are capitalistic and consumers hold the most valuable opinion.
- Often goods are catered towards these markets, as families have disposable income to spend.
Criticisms of Rostow’s modernisation theory (4)
- based largely on American and European development (mass consumption and capitalism to create profit) and therefore ignores the stages of growth other nations who do not fit this mould
- some nations may have large reserves of natural resources which allow them to skip some stages of development (e.g. Saudi Arabia)
- doesn’t describe a nation that is declining (e.g. post-cold war USSR, corruption in Zimbabwe)
- only considers a country in isolation from the world, where the development is the sole responsibility of the country itself and nor affected by international politics or competition.
Define a unipolar world
- One country dominates
- e.g. the USA currently or the British Empire during colonial times
Define a bipolar world
- Where there are two main superpowers with opposing ideas and ideologies
- e.g. the USA and USSR during the Cold War
Define a multi-polar world
Where there are several powers and emerging powers competing for power and global influence
Describe the scale of the British Empire
- Britain ruled a quarter of the world’s land and a third of the world’s population during its peak.
- The Royal Navy dominated the world’s oceans and was double the size of Germany’s (the next largest).
- The British Empire’s expansion was based on hard power; it invaded other countries and colonised them to maintain its control.
- During this time, the world was considered uni-polar.
Positive impacts of colonial power (3)
▪ Railway lines were built throughout the country and were used to transport goods and the army quickly between places.
▪ The English language spread throughout the Empire, which has allowed Commonwealth countries to become outsourcing services and participate in business.
▪ Education for all colonial states was improved - schools were set up & curriculum established. This has led to increased international migration to fill skills shortages in other countries after WWII.
Negative impacts of colonial power (3)
▪ The majority of crops grown in colonial states were bought by the British at very low prices and then sold off by Britain for large amounts. This means that farmers and primary manufacturers were left with little profit to invest in their own futures.
▪ Many colonial states did not have their own governments, which caused severe protests for independence and unstable countries when made independant.
▪ Discriminating policies were established to segregate the British migrants from natives. These policies have remained in some countries until recent years.
Why did many empires collapse in the 20th century? (3)
▪ After the war, many colonial powers were bankrupt as they had to spend a lot during the war and so they couldn’t afford to control and maintain their colonies.
▪ After the wars, colonial powers focused mainly on rebuilding their home countries and so they focused less on the colonies.
▪ Anti-colonial movements gained popularity, and increasing demand for independence forced colonial armies out
Describe neo-colonialism
- Neo-colonialism was first used to describe the continued dependence of former colonies on other countries after their independence.
- However, it has now become used to describe the exploitative relationship between more powerful developed countries who are using their relationship with less developed countries for their own benefit.
Define Frank’s dependency model
the cycle of neo-colonialism, where the neo-colony becomes dependent on the neo-colonial power controlling it.
Why have the IMF and World Bank been accused of being neo-colonial?
- They provide loans to developing nations, but with high rates of repayment and conditions if the developing nation is unable to repay.
- Therefore, developing nations become ‘trapped’ in a cycle of debt and have to open their economies to private companies (governments lose assets and income, making them even less likely to repay their debts).
causes of the cold war
- The Cold War lasted from 1945 to 1990, and was a time of geopolitical tension between the USA and USSR.
- Both were dominant powers and were vying for more global influence and power.
- The USA is a democratic society which was based on a capitalist economy. Whereas the USSR was under communist rule and had a centrally-owned economy.
Key events in the Cold War (7)
● The USSR installed communist governments in Eastern Europe. These countries were of strategic importance to the USSR as they provided a ‘shield’ in case the West attacked Russia.
● The border between Eastern and Western Europe became known as The Iron Curtain and was heavily defended by opposing parties.
● The countries supporting the USSR formed the Warsaw Pact
● The USA created NATO, which its allies joined to cooperate military powers.
● After 1945, the USA provided billions of dollars’ worth of aid to many European nations to rebuild.
● The USA also invested significant amount into Japan, Singapore and The Philippines in order to protect these countries from being influenced by communism.
● The Space Race became a competition of knowledge and economic capacity between the USA and USSR.
Describe proxy wars in the Cold War (5)
- The term ‘cold’ is used to describe the war as there was no large-scale direct fighting between the two sides.
- Instead the two sides supported opposing wars which are described as proxy wars.
- Vietnam War – The USA fought directly against groups which were supported by China and the USSR.
- Korean War – Korea was divided into the South which was supported by the US and the North which was supported by China and the USSR.
- After the collapse of the USSR, the USA became the global dominating force again.
Which countries are the BRICS?
Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa
Which countries are in the G20?
Includes the EU and countries like Turkey, Indonesia, South Korea, Saudi, Mexico
Describe the relative economic importance of the BRICS and G20
- The G20 economies account for 85% of the world’s GDP and 85% of the world’s trade, hence are more influential.
- However, with changing industries and the adoption of new political approaches & ideology, BRICS may overtake G20 and become most influential.
Define an emerging country
An emerging country is a state that has a developing economy or government and has large projected growth.
Brazil - economic characteristics (4)
- Brazil is important regionally for South America as it produces more than 50% of S. America’s GDP
- It has large reserves of natural resources
- It has energy and food security. It is self-sufficient in producing and sourcing its own food and energy resources.
- The economy repeatedly faces boom and bust phases, that severely hamper Brazil’s development
Brazil - political characteristics (3)
- Brazil has been very politically unstable in recent years.
- Corruption is rife throughout the country.
- Since 2015, leadership has drastically changed. The President was impeached in 2015, leading to uncertainty. In 2018, the far-right Bolsonaro was elected.
Brazil - military characteristics
Its military is insignificant; only playing a small regional role and no international involvement.
Brazil - demographic characteristics (3)
- The population of 210 million is the largest in South America.
- The population is very young.
- Fertility rates have decreased significantly so the population may decline in the future.
