Superpowers Flashcards
Explain the concept of a superpower
- Superpowers are states or organisations with a dominant position
in the international system - They have the ability to influence events in their own interest and
project power on a worldwide scale to protect these interests - At present, the only superpower is the United States - However,
countries that may gain superpower status in the future include
China, other BRICS (5 largest emerging economies), and the
European Union.
What are the two mechanisms used to maintain power
Soft and Hard Power
How is power maintained through Soft Power
- Soft power is about culture and political ideology
- For this, media is vital for promoting the beliefs and messages of
superpowers - This causes the erosion of traditional cultures and ideologies –
gradually persuades doubters that a particular action or view is in their
interests
Give an example of Soft Power
Hollywood, for example, allows the USA to export its culture in the form of film. Also exports soft power to maintain global influence through McDonaldisation and ‘Americanisation’ .
How is power maintained through hard Power
- Military presence and force is often considered a form of hard power
- This includes large air, naval and land forces, nuclear weapons,
military bases in foreign countries giving geographical reach, military
alliances (e.g. NATO), diplomatic threats to use force if negotiations
fail, and the use of force - Superpowers use hard power mechanisms because they are the most
obvious and threatening
Give two examples of Hard Power
The USA has an enormous military reach around the world giving it more military power than any other nation. Its military are present on every continent except Antarctica, but the USA has kept a permanently manned scientific base at the south pole since 1957 and in 2003 opened a new US$150 million base, reinforcing its superpower credentials.
The North Atlantic Treaty Organisation military alliance provides the USA with allies in North America (Canada), Europe (UK, France, Italy and others) and the Middle East (Turkey). NATO was important during the Cold War period when the USSR was considered the USA’s superpower enemy.
How is power maintained through actions that can be classed between Soft and Hard Power
- Aid and trade are considered to be between hard and soft power
- Countries can favour certain trade partners by reducing import tariffs
- Other forms of this power include trade blocs and alliances, providing
allies with economic and technical assistance, using aid to influence
policy or keep allies happy, and using economic sanctions against
countries
Give characteristics of Superpowers
- A superpower must be able to conduct a global strategy, to command
vast economic potential and influence and present a universal
ideology - Superpowers have many common characteristics
Economic wealth brings global influence, money with which to
develop infrastructure, and means with which to buy influence through
foreign aid
Military power is often used as a threat to or a bargaining chip
Strong core beliefs and values which are believed to be superior to
the beliefs of others
Recourses are also required such as land, fuel, minerals and people
Explain the USA as a superpower
- After the Second World War, the USA had a greatly enhanced status
and power – despite not having an empire - Unlike Europe, the USA did not suffer from wrecked infrastructure
- The USA encouraged the establishment of international institutions
and international law – the UN headquarters is located in New York,
while the World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF) are
based in Washington. - The growth of the US military influence worldwide grew out of a
number of doctrines
Truman Doctrine of 1947 which committed the USA to support free
peoples threatened by communist takeover
The Nixon Doctrine of 1947 which committed the USA to support free
peoples threatened by communist takeover
The Reagan Doctrine of the 1980s which provided US arms and
training to groups seeking to overthrow Soviet-backed rulers
- The USA spends US$100 billion a year on military spending – and
US$40 billion on military research which is twice what is spent on
health, energy and environment combined – this has given it the world
largest world’s largest and most technical advanced fleet of warplanes,
ships, tanks and artillery systems. - There are many interlocking strands in the USA’s global military
presence, including overseas bases, ships and aircraft that allow the
USA to apply force to any part of the globe, the supply of weapons and
military training to a wide range of countries, and a network of listening
posts which gather and disseminate vital information. - USA accounts for half the international arms sales
Explain Mackinder’s Heartland Theory
- Mackinder referred to the heartland as the core of Eurasia, and he
considered all of Europe and Asia as the world island - By controlling the ‘pivot’, the heartland could be controlled which
would ultimately lead to global power - Mackinder supposed it should be Russia who controlled because of
their location and recourses but, since they had poor governance and
many borders, they were considered weak - Instead, Britain ruled the heartland because of its economic power,
industrial revolution and military power - At the time of his theory, he took into consideration world history only
in the context of conflict between land and sea powers
How has Britains power changed over time
- The British Empire once covered 25% of the worlds land area
- However, the cost of fighting two world wars and the damage of the
British economy and infrastructure meant that it could no longer afford
to fund activities and policies in its colonies. - Moreover- after the first world war – there was a hunger for
independence from British rule and the colonies became difficult to
control - The post-war period therefore marked a decline of the former British
Empire and the independence of the former colonies
What are three different types of world superpower dominance
A uni-polar world in one dominated by one superpower
A bi-polar world is one where two opposing superpowers exist
A multi-power world is one with three or more superpowers 4
What was the most recent example of a bi-polar world
- During the cold war, the USA challenged the USSR for global domination.
- This predominately involved a clash of cultures between capitalism and
communism political ideologies.
Explain the economic transformation of China
- Since 1978. The standard of living in China has tripled, and market
reforms have been introduced gradually. - A similar approach was later applied to the industrial sector.
- After Deng’s death in 1997, Jiang Zemin became the leader, and
under his rule China saw major improvements in its diplomatic
standing and economic strength, although there were growing
disparities between rural and urban living standards. - The Yangtze valley became part of the Asia-Pacific trade bloc.
- Developments in the Pearl River Delta Region have built upon Hong
Kong’s success to create a dynamic business region in southern
China. - China’s demand for the raw materials of this economic boom had a
major impact on world markets in oil, ore, metals, petrochemicals and
machinery.
How does GDP compare between the USA, the EU and China
In 2014, 46% of the global GDP was accounted for by the USA and the EU. Chinas economy in 2014, at US$10.3 trillion, represented only 13.3% of the global GDP
Explain the hinderances and beneficiaries of current world powers that could influence whether they will achieve future superpower status
- The EU and Japan have ageing populations and are not likely to grow
demographically; in turn, their economies will grow only slowly, if at all. - The USA’s economic and population growth Is likely to be moderate
- China’s population is also ageing, but its manufacturing-based
economy has huge potential as it shifts growth based on services and
consumerism; this is also true of Brazil which, like China, has a
growing middle class - Other demographically large countries (Nigeria, India, Indonesia) are
also undergoing growth which could rival the world’s existing large
economies
What are the BRIC nations
Brazil, Russia, India and China were identified as a group of emerging
powers in 2001
These five countries set up a formal association in 2009
What is the G20
The G20 major economies: this group formed in 1999 and meets
annually.
It is made up of 19 countries including the EU and some potential
emerging powers such as Mexico, Indonesia, South Korea, Saudi
Arabia and Turkey
What are the strengths and weaknesses of Brazil as an emerging power
Strengths:
Regional leader in Latin America
Strong agricultural economy and exporter
Energy independent in oil and biofuels
Growing middle class and maturing consumer economy
Culturally influential with 2014 world cup and 2016 Olympics
Weaknesses:
Small military with only a regional intervention capacity
Economy suffers from fluctuating trends
Needs to control the destruction of its forests
Education levels lag behind competitors
Faces wide scale governmental corruption and high levels of
inequality
High internal violence and crime rates
What are the strengths and weaknesses of Russia as an emerging power
Strengths:
A nuclear power with very large military capacity
Huge oil and gas reserves which are a source of wealth
Permanent seat on the UN Security Council
Weaknesses:
An ageing and declining population, which is also unhealthy
Extreme levels of inequality
Economy is overly dependent on oil and gas
Difficult diplomatic and geopolitical relationships between the EU and the USA
What are the strengths and weaknesses of India as an emerging power
Strengths:
A youthful population with large economic potential
English is widely spoken and graduate education
Nuclear armed
Weaknesses:
Future energy recourse shortages, especially water and energy
Poor transport and energy infrastructure
Very high levels of poverty
Poor political relations with its neighbours, especially Pakistan
What are the strengths and weaknesses of China as an emerging power
Strengths:
A highly educated, innovative population
Soon to be world’s largest economy and leads in fields such as
renewable energy
Military technology and reach is growing, and challenging the USA
Modern infrastructure in terms of transport
Huge population (1.39 billion) that means it has a strong domestic
market
Population is also particularly wealthy which gives it unrivalled buying
power
China continues to embrace globalisation while other countries seek a
protectionist policy
Chinas One Belt and One Road initiative seeks to stimulate economic
growth across Asia by investing billions of dollars into building
ambitious amounts of infrastructure to connect China with the rest of
the world
Weaknesses:
Will soon have major problems with an ageing population that is
mostly male
Major pollution issues in terms of air and water quality
Tense relationships with its neighbours in South East Asia
Rising wages makes its economy increasingly high
Relies on imported raw materials
Plays a limited geopolitical role; not yet a leader on the global stage
When can an emerging power be classified as a Superpower
When it can exert its spheres of influence on a Military, economic, cultural and political scale.
Define Neo-colonialism
Is the use of economic, political, cultural, or other pressures to control or influence other countries, especially former dependencies.