Superpowers Flashcards
define superpower
is a nation or gorup of nations with a leading position in international politics - abulity to project its influence around the world
has ability to use its power around the world
define emerging superpower
are nations with a significant influence thats growing eg china, may not have dominance in all key areas yet
what are the charateristics of superpowers
-economic, high gpd trade, influcen over trade. home to tncs. hard currency in
-political, permanent seat of un security coucil, powerful allies. many multilateral agreements
-military - high expenditure, personnel, nuclear weapons could command global military control
The four pillars of Superpower status are:
▪ Economic – 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.
▪ Military – 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).
▪ Political & Ideology – 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.
▪ Cultural – 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 superpower excersise their superpower statuts using resources
Another factor which a nation can use to exercise their superpower status is resources.
- 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.
- Human resources – 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.
superpowers -state the theories to explain why different powers occur at different times
- the power spectrum
-mckinders geo-strategic location theory - Wallerstein’s World Systems Theory
- ## Rostow’s Modernisation Theory
what are the criticisms of rostows modernisation theory
limitations come from it being largely based on euope and the usa took to develop, mass consumption and capitalism. ignoring other stages countries have taken such as bolivia’s suatinable development or how saudi arabia was able to skip steps as it already had large reserves of resources gas.
focuses on advantages and not at countries in decline, ussr went bankrupt after the cold war, and had lost ukraine and belurus facig economic recession.
because of increased gloablisation countries raent as isolated, now a countries limited by internationalpolitics or competeion for trade
superpowers - type of polarity
Unipolar world – One country dominates e.g. the USA currently or the British Empire
during colonial times
▪ Bi-polar world – Where there are two main superpowers with opposing ideas and
ideologies e.g. the USA and USSR during the Cold War.
▪ Multi-polar world – Where there are several powers and emerging powers competing
for power and global influence.
what is the theory tht describes mechanisms for maintaining power on a spectrum of power
this is how a superpower will be influencial in other countries
hard power- usually direct military action or political intervention to change or influence countries ehaviour > military action, threat of restrictions of trade, economic sanctions to damge economy, own debt.
soft power - attraction > culture lifestyle, sought after political advise, foreign policies encourage migration, trade alliances increasing fdi >business, infrastructure of business.
superpowers - describe mackinders geo-strategic location theory
this geography looked an an area of eurasia and classed it as the ‘heartland’, claiming who was in control over this region would control large amounts of resources, influencial theory.
it was significant by contributing to containment that was attempted, after ww2 nato allies wanted to contain soviets from expanding east and west.
limitations - since expansion of tech made transport easier, this shrinking world decreased the importance of location of the ‘heartland’, resources are easily transported so are military and armies. superpowers can maintain influence without having to colonise now.america could be said to dominate a uni-polar world, despite it being on the edge of the ‘heartland’
superpowers - wallersteins world systems theory/ dependency theory
defines the economic areas of core and periphery. core usually refers to developed countries (economic powerhouses that control world trade (agreemtnsand currencies) trade with periperhy who provide the labour + materials.
- explains inequality in wealth and development across the world.
- historically an exploitative relationship - colonisation, periphery was often forced by military to give resources ag india british empire,
- now relationship normally consist sof softer powers - trade agreements - still benefitting the core
superpowers - (rostows) Modernisation theory
- economies growth in 5 stages
1. traditional society (primary industry)
2. pre - take off (construction of infrastructure>manufacturing)
3. take off (rapid industrialisation, environmental degradation)
4.drive tomaturity* ( adoption gloabal culture, poss feedback improves qual of life)
5. mass consumption ( capitalistic, economies focus on families disposable income)
superpowers - patterns over time, what can they be describes as (polarity
uni - one dominat superpower, no competition.
bi - two dominant forces such as the british empire and the ussr
multi-polar > several power + emerging powers compete for power and global influence
superpowers - patterns over time
imperial era, positives and negatives
-direct colonial power eg british empire 1919-1939, they rule 1/4 land and 1/3 world population. Based on hard power, invading and colonising
successes - built railway lines> transpor goods + army. English landguage spread across europ allowing commonwealth migration, set up educational circiculums = enables international migration to solve skills shortages
negatives - farmers dont gain profti they cn reinvest in themselves, states didnt have their own governments created instability when gaining independence, discriminatory policies to segregate migrants and natives
which are the emerging powers
- BRICs also includes south aftrica
- MINT - mexico, indonesia, nigeria and turkey
- G20, 20 most successful economies of the world, meet to discuss how to keep global economy working best, all bric + mint r members, and eu usa and japan.
how are emerging powers influencial
- economically > growth powers world economy, g20 countries make 85% global trade - large populations =market for commodities
- politically > economy enables them to form alliances, influence group (eg new development bank) join global deciion making orgs eg G20
- environmentally > as climate change is a global issue emerging powers have a crucial role to play in tackling it individually and glob gov initiatives ( UN climate conferences)
