China and the USA are similar in size of GDP but per person the USA is (1) times greater
4
GB:
• No longer a superpower
• (1) largest economy
• (2) largest military spending but granted independence to all empire territories
• Influence in (3) and the UN
• BBC World Service to gain (4) funding from government
1 - 6th
2 - 5th
3 - NATO
4 - £289 million
Describe Mackinder’s geo strategic location theory (aka Heartland theory)
The heartland covers a large portion of the Eurasian continent which Mackinder theorised whichever country held political control over the region could exert dominance over the rest of the world because control over land equates to political power
Despite criticism of mackinder’s theory being inapplicable to today’s geopolitical landscape, why is it argued to be relevant?
It is claimed that the theory has influenced key foreign policies on a global scale
Where has Mackinder’s theory been used to exert dominance?
The Nazi drive to conquer Europe proposed by Swedish political scientist Rudolf Kjellen in 1905 and again in the Cold War, the Soviet Union has control of the former east bloc countries
Give an example of how history can let a country maintain power
International students to British universities especially Oxbridge
Cultural relationships established through the British empire to live on through the Commonwealth
Case law in Britain legal system is widely adopted worldwide
Give an example of how culture can ensure maintenance of power
BBC international broadcaster
English is the most widely spoken language following Mandarin
The UK exports knowledge management in international consultancy firms
Describe how diplomacy can help a country maintain power
UK has one of the largest networks of embassies and high commissions
Britain has always sought to support weaker countries against takeover by stronger ones to maintain balances of power
Why has covert power been criticised recently?
The failure of the USA to react to human right abuses in Syria 2013-16
What are the two major aspects of hard power?
Military power and economic power
The USA remains the largest (1) partner for many countries, exporting high value goods e.g. (2) and global (3) the USA has dominance in (4) and intellectual property such as (5)
The (6) are all vital in spreading western influence
1 - trading 2 - military aircraft 3 - brands 4 - innovation 5 - patents 6 - Bretton Woods players (WTO, IMF and world bank)
