Superpowers

Question 1

Superpower

Answer 1

A country with the ability to exert global influence through a combination of economic, military, political, and cultural strength.

Question 2

Hard Power

Answer 2

The use of military and economic means to influence other countries’ behavior (e.g., sanctions, military intervention).

Question 3

Soft Power

Answer 3

The ability to influence others through cultural appeal, diplomacy, and values rather than coercion.

Smart Power
Smart power is the strategic use of both hard power (e.g. military force, economic sanctions) and soft power (e.g. diplomacy, cultural influence, development aid) to achieve foreign policy goals effectively.

It’s about using the right mix of tools depending on the situation, persuading where possible, coercing when necessary.

Question 4

Military Power

Answer 4

A nation’s capability to deploy armed forces and project force internationally.

Question 5

Economic Power

Answer 5

The ability to influence global markets through wealth, trade, investment, and control of resources.

Question 6

Geopolitical Influence

Answer 6

The strategic control or influence over geographic areas, especially regions rich in resources or of political importance.

Question 7

Hegemony

Answer 7

Dominance of one state or group over others, especially in political, economic, or military terms.

Question 8

Neo-Colonialism

Answer 8

Indirect control by former colonial powers or developed countries over developing countries, often through economic or political means rather than direct rule.

Question 9

Economic Dependency

Answer 9

A situation where developing countries rely heavily on exports to or investment from superpowers, limiting their autonomy.

Question 10

Soft Infrastructure

Answer 10

Non-physical systems like legal, financial, educational, and governance institutions that support a country’s development.

Question 11

Technological Power

Answer 11

The ability to innovate, produce, and control advanced technology, often linked to military and economic dominance.

Question 12

Multipolarity

Answer 12

A global system where multiple superpowers or major powers coexist and compete for influence.

Question 13

Unipolarity

Answer 13

A global system dominated by one superpower.

Question 14

Resource Security

Answer 14

A country’s ability to access and control critical natural resources to support its economy and military.

Question 15

Soft Loans / Aid

Answer 15

Loans with low or zero interest rates often used by superpowers to gain influence in developing countries.

Question 16

Balance of Power

Answer 16

A situation where power is distributed among countries to prevent any one from dominating.

Question 17

Global Governance

Answer 17

International cooperation through institutions (UN, WTO, IMF) that regulate global issues.

Question 18

Sphere of Influence

Answer 18

A region where a superpower exerts significant political, economic, or military control.

Question 19

SAPs (Structural Adjustment Programs)

Answer 19

Economic reform policies imposed by the IMF or World Bank on developing countries in exchange for loans. These include measures like reducing government spending, privatising state industries, deregulating markets, and promoting free trade.

Question 20

Authoritarian

Answer 20

A governing system where power is concentrated in a single leader or a small group, with limited political freedoms, strict control over society, and little tolerance for opposition.

Question 21

Democratic

Answer 21

A political system where power is derived from the people through free and fair elections, with protection of individual rights and freedoms, rule of law, and pluralism.

Question 22

Sanctions

Answer 22

Economic or political penalties imposed by one country (or group) on another to influence its actions without military conflict.

Question 23

Diplomacy

Answer 23

The art and practice of conducting negotiations between countries to manage conflicts and build alliances.

Question 24

Deterrence

Answer 24

The strategy of maintaining military power to discourage an enemy from attacking, often through the threat of retaliation (e.g., nuclear deterrence).

Question 25

Autarky

Answer 25

Economic independence or self-sufficiency, where a country limits reliance on international trade, often pursued by authoritarian states.

Question 26

Soft Power Diplomacy

Answer 26

Using culture, education, and international aid to influence global opinion and build alliances without coercion.

Question 27

Bilateral/Multilateral Relations

Answer 27

Bilateral: Relations or agreements between two countries. Multilateral: Cooperation among three or more countries (e.g., UN, G20).

Question 28

BRICS

Answer 28

An acronym for a group of five major emerging economies: Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa. These countries cooperate to increase their influence in global economic and political affairs.

Question 29

G20

Answer 29

An international forum of 19 countries plus the European Union, representing the world’s largest economies. The G20 discusses global economic issues, aiming to promote international financial stability.

Question 30

World-Systems Theory

Answer 30

A sociological approach developed by Immanuel Wallerstein that divides the world into three groups: - Core countries: Wealthy, dominant superpowers that control global trade and benefit the most. - Semi-periphery countries: Intermediate countries with some development and influence. - Periphery countries: Poorer, less developed nations often exploited for resources and cheap labor.

Question 31

Dependency Theory

Answer 31

A theory suggesting that poorer countries (the periphery) remain underdeveloped because they are economically dependent on wealthy countries (the core), which exploit them through unequal trade and investment.

Question 32

Modernisation Theory

Answer 32

A development theory that sees global inequality as a result of traditional societies needing to modernise through industrialisation, technology, and adopting Western values to develop economically.

Question 33

WEF (World Economic Forum)

Answer 33

An international organisation based in Switzerland that engages political, business, and other leaders to shape global, regional, and industry agendas, famous for its annual meeting in Davos.