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Human Geography > Superpowers > Flashcards

Superpowers Flashcards

1
Q

What is a superpower?

A

A superpower is a nation or a group of nations with a leading position in international politics.

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2
Q

What is a regional power and use examples?

A

Have strong influence within their region but are less powerful outside that region e.g Nigeria, Brazil and Russia

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3
Q

5 pillars of superpower status

A

Economic
Political
Social
Environmental
Cultural

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4
Q

What is hard power?

A

‘Hard’ power is defined as power through force or coercion and is likely to involve military power or economic sanctions.

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5
Q

What is soft power?

A

‘Soft’ power, on the other hand, is exerting influence through favour and persuasion, and is therefore likely to be based on cultural power.

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6
Q

Why was AUKUS set up?

A

Containment of China’s sphere of influence

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7
Q

Example of Hard Power

A
  • Criticising the policies of close allies e.g Canada, UK may have weakened the soft power the USA had with these countries
  • Economic sanctions against Iran 2019
  • President Trump downgraded America’s use of soft power arguing for America’s home interests first
  • Trumps presidency (2017-2021)
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8
Q

Example of Soft Power

A

Diplomacy - The UK has one of the largest embassies and high comissions. UK objections are often achieved through diplomatic influence.

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9
Q

Huawei: Superpower’s in TNCs

A
  • It has been banned from the UK’s 5G infrastructure
  • It is questions to whether it has links with China’s government
  • It is investing in the UK especially in university research
  • Huawei says it has “partnerships” with 35 UK universities including Imperial, Surrey, Cambridge and Southampton.
  • It says it has spent £80 million in the last 10 years on UK based research
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10
Q

What is a unipolar world?

A

A unipolar world is one dominated by one superpower e.g. the British Empire or the US-dominated world of today

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11
Q

What is a bipolar world?

A

A bipolar world is one in which two superpowers, with opposing ideologies, vie for power, e.g. the USA and USSR during the Cold War.

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12
Q

British Empire: Mercantile phase 1600-1850

A

Small colonies are conquered by force on coastal fringes and islands, e.g. New England (now the USA), Jamaica, Accra (Ghana) and Bombay (India) and defended by coastal forts.
The forts, and navy, protect trade in raw materials (sugar, coffee, tea) and slaves which were in effect bought at a very low price or simply taken from other countries.
These raw materials were taken to the UK and manufactured (the birth of the industrial revolution) into products that were then sold back to the colonies (at a much higher price) through the same protected trade routes. This practice led to rapid economic development in the UK (and also stimulated it in the colonies) and helped make it a global power.

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13
Q

British Empire: Imperial phase 1850-1945

A

The Royal navy dominated the world’s oceans protecting the colonies. By 1914 the British navy was twice the size of the second biggest, Germany.
Government institutions with British colonial administrations are set up to rule colonial populations
Complex trade develops, including the export of UK-manufactured goods to the new colonial markets
Settlers from Britain set up farms and plantations in colonies
Technology, e.g. railways and telegraph, is used to connect distant parts of the empire. This ease of communication helps create a sense of unity between the colonies.
Empires often thought of themselves as more evolved humans who had a divine right to rule over and teach the savages how to dress (in western clothing), pray (Christianity), trade (capitalism) and run their country by forcing their own ways of governance upon them.

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14
Q

British Empire: Direct control of India

A

British military personnel, civil servants and entrepreneurs emigrated to India to run the Raj (the system put in place to rule India by the British)
Educated Indians (speaking English and wearing western clothes) occupied many lower administrative positions. This created a sense that the more educated, important and wealthy wore western clothes and spoke English.
India was modernized, especially through the construction of 61,000km of railways by 1920; these allowed for both the efficient transport of troops to any part of India to put down a rebellion, as well as the efficient transport of goods to ports for export to Britain. This network has sped the recent industrialization of India allowing for the fast and efficient movement of people and goods.

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15
Q

What is Mackinder’s heartland theory?

A

In 1904, Mackinder, a British geographer, created a theory about global power called the geo-strategic location theory.
He believed that whoever controlled Europe and Asia – the biggest landmass – would control the world not only because of its size but also because of its natural resources and a large population. Mackinder also claimed that it was impenetrable because it was surrounded by mountains, deserts and the frozen Arctic.

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16
Q

Containment of communism

A

Truman Doctrine: resulted in military conflicts with some of the USA’s allies like Korea and Vietnam

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17
Q

Why is Mackinder’s heartland theory rejected now?

A

It is believed that Mackinder’s Heartland theory is no longer relevant today. Modern technological advances and the interconnectedness of all countries through globalisation have rendered the theory irrelevant. Furthermore:
- The Soviet Union built roads and rail networks that made the heartland accessible
- Modern technology such as modern warfare and missiles and fighter jets could easily manage the ‘natural barriers’
- The Arctic is not as large as Mackinder depicted it to be. Also – it is now melting so the heartland is even more accessible.

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18
Q

Multipolar world 1919-1939

A

Britain was not alone in having colonies during the imperial era.
- Even the USA had overseas possessions (Philippines, Panama) as did Germany, France and other European countries.
- The period between 1919 and 1939 was an increasingly MULTI-POLAR one. Germany became more powerful during the 1930’s as Hitler rearmed for war and Imperial Japan began increasing power in Asia.
- USA became economically and militarily stronger, challenging Britain’s traditional global leadership.
- European powers were still strong, but weakened by poor economic performance and the costs of maintaining empires.

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19
Q

What is Neo-colonialism?

A

Neo-colonialism is a form of indirect control over developing countries.
Means ‘new’ colonialism, where countries remain under control from overseas –even though they are supposedly independent.
It is largely a form of economic imperialism. The IMF and World Bank and how they control developing countries through SAPs – that is neo-colonialism.
Direct political control decreases whilst economic control increases

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20
Q

China’s FDI in Africa (Neo-colonialism)

A
  • Between 2000 and 2014 China invested $86 billion in 3000 projects in African nations
  • Africa is resource-rich: 90% of platinum and cobalt supplies (a third of China’s investment is in mining)
  • Standard-Guage Railway in Sudan $1.45 billion
  • Copper mining South Africa $1.36 billion
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21
Q

Brazil Economic: predicting future superpowers

A
  • Brazil is important regionally because it produces half of South America’s GDP
  • Agriculture, third largest producer of iron ore, fifteenth largest producer of oil, and third largest of HEP.
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21
Q

Brazil Political: predicting future superpowers

A

Has been politically less stable in recent years, with accusations of corruption as well as protests every year since 2013 caused by the government spending cuts perceived as government corruption.

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22
Q

Brazil Military: predicting future superpowers

A

Spends 60% of South America’s total military budget

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23
Q

Brazil Cultural: predicting future superpowers

A

2014 World Cup and 2016 Olympics and Rio’s carnival

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24
Q

Brazil Environmental: predicting future superpowers

A
  • Brazil’s biodiversity includes 13% of all known species
  • Rapid deforestation
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25
Q

India Economic: emerging superpowers

A
  • Indian economy has quadrupled between 1997 and 2015
  • English speaking country - good for TNCs
  • Government is facing large debts which has led to the reduction of the rupee
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26
Q

India Political: emerging superpowers

A
  • India is the world’s largest democracy
  • Founding member of the UN
  • Commonwealth links with UK as a former colony
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27
Q

India Military: emerging superpowers

A
  • Global Fire Power ranks India as the world’s fourth largest military in terms of its weaponry
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28
Q

India Cultural: emerging superpowers

A
  • The world’s largest film industry, Bollywood
  • Birth place of Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, Sikhism
29
Q

Modernisation theory

A

Based on growth of the UK and USA
Assumes that if enough investment is made into developing a country it will inevitably take-off giving good returns on original investment.

30
Q

Dependency theory

A

TNC investment in developing countries led to exploitation of workers, the manipulation of global trade and environmental damage, keeping a periphery of developing countries dependent on a core of developed countries.

31
Q

World Systems Theory

A

Is a theory developed from Frank’s Dependency theory
It recognises the importance of the global economy, which has long-term cycles of booms and recessions. Both create opportunties for countries to become emerging powers or for their power and influence to decline, and for countries to remove between periphery and core.

32
Q

WTO

A

Established in 1995, it has brokered many agreements aimed at promoting open trade and reducing protectionism.

33
Q

IMF

A

Promotes global economic security and stability and assists countries to reform their economies. Economic reforms often mean more open access to developing economies for HIC TNCs.

34
Q

World Economic Forum

A

A Swiss non-profit organisation that promotes globalisation and free trade via its annual meeting at Davos, which brings together the global business and political elite

35
Q

World Bank

A

Makes development loans to developing countries, but within a ‘free-market’ model that promotes exports, trade, industrialisation and private business, which benefits large HIC TNCs.

36
Q

How do inter-governmental organisations expand superpowers sphere of influence: Global Economic Forum

A
  • Swiss non-profit IGO founded in 1971 to help resolve disputes and promote global thinking.
  • Its members think internationally, and encourage governments to promote global links.
  • TNCs gain a lot from government policies (such as low taxation) so networking is useful for them
  • Critics of the WEF accuse it of pushing elite globalist agendas over national loyalty
37
Q

How do inter-governmental organisations expand superpowers sphere of influence: World Trade Organisation (WTO)

A

The WTO has the same rationale as the World Bank and the IMF, except that its focus is on trade and its rules. It aims to free up global trade and reduce trade barriers, by negotiating free-trade agreements and ensuring that its members maintain its rules.
- One country, one vote – so it is fairer that the IMF and World Bank – in theory. BUT No votes have ever been taken and decision-making usually favours the EU and USA.
- The WTO is currently focused on poverty reduction by removing farm subsidies (grants paid to farmers to encourage production) in developing countries to stimulate efficient production. But the result has been that, in many developing countries, cheaper imports then undercut local farmers, who are forced out of business.
- Nonetheless, a combination of globalisation and WTO agreements has led to an explosion in global trade since 1950

38
Q

How do inter-governmental organisations expand superpowers sphere of influence: World Bank

A
  • Also founded at Bretton Woods in 1944
  • Its role is to finance development
  • It also focuses on addressing the effects of natural disasters, as well as on humanitarian emergencies, but its main role is to help capitalism function – particularly by making loans to developing countries for development projects.
  • Gained a bad reputation in the 1970s and 1980s for financing projects that were either environmentally damaging or so costly that countries were unable to pay back
  • It now aims to eliminate poverty and implement sustainable goals
  • In 2016, the USA controlled 16.5% of World Bank votes
39
Q

How do inter-governmental organisations expand superpowers sphere of influence: IMF

A

A fear of communist expansion after 1945 dominated US foreign policy. American ideology – based on modernisation theory – influenced global economic development and promoted capitalism.
- The IMF was founded in 1944 at Bretton Woods.
- Its job was to stabilise global currencies after the 1930s depression and the devastation caused by the 2nd WW.
- 44 countries initially joined to create a fund (mostly paid for by the wealthiest nations) to be used for loans to help those countries facing heavy debts, this helping stabilise their economies. The thinking was that poverty – and communism – would be prevented, and capitalism promoted.
- There were 189 members by 2016 but they are not equal. The eight wealthiest countries control 47% of the votes
- Most of the IMF’s work has reflected US and European policies in managing issues such an international debt.
- In the 1980s and 1990s, it imposed conditions (SAPs) that forced developing countries to cut spending on health and education in return for stabilising or extending their debt repayments.

40
Q

TNCs and technology and patents

A

When TNCs invent new technology, products and brands, their new developments are protected by intellectual property law in form of patents, copyrights, and trademarks
- Any person or company wishing to use any of them has to pay a royalty fee to the inventor or designer.
- Existing superpowers and developed countries are paid for inventions they created decades ago.
- TNCs from the developed world have the most money to invent new products and so tend to have most of the patents
- Westernisation and cultural globalisation tend to spread US and European music , film and TV (copyright) and brands (trademarks).

41
Q

In 2015 how many patents did the US register

A

Over 57,000. China is also following this and rapidly increasing their number of patents.

41
Q

The USA uses its military through three ways

A

The USA has intervened militarily in foreign countries many times. It does this in three ways:

As part of the UN Security Council
Together with allied countries outside the UN remit
Unilaterally (on their own)

41
Q

USA military alliances

A

Security Alliance Japan
Military Alliance South Korea
Taiwan relations act
Mutual defence treaty Philippines
ANZUS
AUKUS
NATO
Strategic Co-operation agreement Israel

42
Q

What are geostrategic policies?

A

Geostrategic policies are those that aim to meet the geopolitical aims of a country by combining diplomacy with military strategy.
Successful geostrategy requires countries to work together in military and economic alliances.

43
Q

Geostrategic policy: AUKUS

A
  • Allow Australia to have nuclear submarines becoming only the 7th country to have these weapons
  • Speculated to be a response to China’s expansionist drive in the South China Sea and increasing belligerence towards Taiwan
  • Set up in 2021
44
Q

China and the environment

A

China has surpassed the United States as the world’s largest carbon emitter since 2005
The crux of the issue was how to assign fairly the responsibility of carbon emission reduction between developed countries and China
China is set to double its capacity and produce 1,200 gigawatts of energy through wind and solar power by 2025, reaching its 2030 goal five years ahead of time,

45
Q

Pressure on energy from rising consumption

A

Global oil demand was 97 million barrels per day in 2015

46
Q

Pressure on resources from rising consumption

A

Demand for lithium batteries
Minerals are becoming harder to maintain demand

47
Q

Pressure on food from rising consumption - China

A

In the last 30 years, Chinese demand for meat has quadrupled, according to figures from the US Agriculture department. The country now eats a quarter of the world supply, or 71 million tons a year.
By contrast, in 1982 each Chinese ate just 13kg of meat, the equivalent of one tenth of a pig, a year. Beef was so rare it was nicknamed “Millionaire’s meat”.

48
Q

UNCLOS

A

The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) delineates the area over which a state has special rights regarding the exploration and use of marine resources, including energy production from water and wind. It stretches from the baseline out to 200 nautical miles from its coast.

49
Q

South China Sea: Contested speheres of influence TABLEMOUNT

A

This is a tablemount (an underwater mountain) near the Philippine coast rich in
untapped oil and gas deposits. China wants an agreement on joint energy exploration, but this tablemount clearly falls within the EEZ of the Philippines.
China has stopped Philippine attempts to explore this area on its own, saying the tablemount falls within the area that
Beijing claims as its territory in the South. (DEPENDENCY THEORY)

50
Q

South China Sea: Vietnam and China

A

In 2011, Vietnam claimed that Chinese boats twice deliberately sabotaged oil-exploration missions by cutting ship cables in the waters off its coast. China called one of the cable-
cutting incidents accidental and accused Vietnam of violating its ‘sovereignty and maritime rights’. Vietnam responded by conducting naval exercises off its coast.

51
Q

Explain how the rise of emerging powers can lead to geopolitical instability in a region you have studied (Asia rising conflicts)

A

Taiwan: relations have been tense between governments Chinese governments maintain territorial claim to Taiwan as a Chinese province

Japan: Tensions since after WW2 where US troops were located in Japan and Japan’s capitalist, westernised economy increases tension

India: Both India and China have territorial claims to the Himalayas

India and Pakistan: The two countries have gone to war several times over Kashmir both have no developed nuclear weapons

India and Bangladesh: tensions due to extraction of water from River Ganges

52
Q

What is economic restructuring?

A

The shift from primary and secondary industry towards tertiary and quaternary industry as a result of deindustrialisation. It has large social and economic costs.

53
Q

Challenges to future superpower status: Debt US

A

National Debt in 2016 was $19 trillion

54
Q

Challenges to future superpower status: Demographics EU

A

By 2025 20% of citizens will be over 65
The EU’s workforce will drop by 14% by 2030

55
Q

Challenges to future superpower status: Healthcare US

A

Health spending takes up 17% of the USA’s annual GDP
Around 40% of America’s population is considered obese

56
Q

Give examples of tension in the Middle East

A
  • After WW1 some Middle Eastern countries were colonised by the UK and France
  • Wahhabism - advocates a purification of Islam and rejects any Islamic theology developed after the death of Muhammad
  • Israel and Palestine conflict
57
Q

What agreement divided up the previous Ottoman empire into zones of influence for Britain and France?

A

Sykes-Picot Agreement 2016

58
Q

Syria’s refugee crisis

A

Estimated 14 million refugees since 2011 have left Syria

59
Q

Palestine and Israel conflict

A
  • Expulsions of 100,000s Palestinians due to Israel
  • Britain split Palestine into an Arab and Israeli state the next day civil war broke out
  • 2023 October Hamas launched suprise attacks on Israel which led to the retaliation of Israel and the death of many innocent people. Social Media showed Hamas ‘terrorists’ or ‘freedom fighters’ kidnapping and torturing young Israeli women and children.
60
Q

Terrorism

A

There are destabilising terrorist groups including Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, IS (also known as ISIS, ISIL) in Syria and Iraq, and the Taliban in Afghanistan.
Despite a war in Afghanistan led by the USA from 2002 to 2014, Taliban insurgents continue to destabilise that country. 2021 the removal of US troops led to the Taliban using US weapons. Some of the funding and support for IS, Al-Qaeda and the Taliban originates from the very countries that are fighting against them, for example Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Pakistan and Turkey, straining relations between allies.

61
Q

Why is justifying military spending more difficult in democratic countries?

A

Nuclear weapons used in war guarantee mutually assured destruction and due to democracy the growing opinion is that nuclear weapons are not required due to the social inhalation and environmental damage.

62
Q

Hard power 2022 case study

A

On September 2, 2022, the G7 group of nations agreed to cap the price of Russian oil in order to reduce Russia’s ability to finance its war with Ukraine without further increasing inflation. Joined by the European Union and Australia, the sanctions come into effect on 5 December 2022.

63
Q

Montereal agreement

A

Chlorine and bromine, released by the breakdown of CFCs, were particularly problematic. The 1987 Montreal Protocol phased out production and use of these and other substances that deplete ozone.

64
Q

Contested spheres of influence: South China Sea 2023

A

The two Philippine Coast Guard ships were escorting the Filipino commercial boats which carried supplies that are good for roughly one month.

When the two countries’ vessels encountered each other, the Chinese ships sent radio challenges to the Filipinos, asking them to leave. When the Philippine ships refused, the Chinese aligned themselves in a box shape to block them.

65
Q

Global demand for minerals

A

The demand for minerals will increase by nearly 500% by 2040. Critical minerals, such as cobalt, copper, lithium, nickel and rare earths, play a crucial role in the production of clean energy technologies, from wind turbines to electric cars.

66
Q

UN peacekeeping in Haiti

A

A UN peacekeeping force was put in place in 2004 to help stabilise the country and only withdrew in 2017. In Haiti there is civil unrest as gangs are taking more control launching attacks on governmental institutions and as of March 2024 4,000 prisoners escaped its main prison and no medical staff are working in the State University of Haiti Hospital. In three weeks March 53,000 fled from the capital due to increase in gang violence.

67
Q

UN providing aid in Ukraine

A

UN and partners provided vital aid to 11 million people in war-ravaged Ukraine in 2023.More than 40% of Ukrainians are in desperate need of humanitarian assistance and protection.

68
Q

Tensions in the Arctic

A

Currently 70 research stations 4 are Chinese, 9 are Russian and 3 are US owned. The Northeast Passage would be 13 days quicker shipping route than via the Suez Canal saving as much as $120 trillion a year.

Human Geography (4 decks)

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