unit 11- Empires and Superpowers Flashcards
(22 cards)
Superpowers, and examples
A soverign state with influence on global politics, military, economic and cultural affairs
Eg - USSR, US, In the future - China, India and EU
Key features of Superpowers
Key features:
-Advanced military dominance and nuclear abilities
-Large GDP and influence over global markets
-Veto power (can start/stop any global action)
- Political influence
- High value brands, media and tech
Empires with examples
A ruling entity with direct control over multiple terriroties through political dpminance, which arent necessarily geographically connected
eg - British empire, Roman Empire,
Key features of an empire + difference from supwerpowers
Key features:
- central ruling commitee lead by an emporer or single party government
- Control over colonies across the globe
- Military, Political and Economic dominance
Diff - Superpowers have influence without direct governance, whereas empires have direct control over other nations
3 main feilds for any empire/superpower or supra national org should have dominance over
Economcis
Politics
Military/Tech
Supranational instituitions and examples
An global entity formed by multiple nations with delegated authority to make large scale decisions benfitting all
Eg - UN, EU, WHO,WTO
Supranational institutions key features and difference from empires and superpowers
key features:
-Made of multiple member states that make collective decisions which transcend national soverignty
- Decisions apply to all member states collectively
- Common goals of economic, political and security cooperation
Difference - Unlike empires, they have no direc control but rather have a high level of influence (more than superpowers). Unlike superpowers, they are made of multiple nations
Why did countries form supranational organisations
- Collective security to prevent another world war
- To promote trade, global cooperation and economic cooperation
- Manage conflicts through diplomacy rtaher than violence
- Adress global challenges together
- To bring in smaller nations while making global decisions
What was the NATO, reason for creation and some members of it
North Atlantic Treaty Organisation
Formed in 1947, it is a military alliance of Western countries led by the US to provide mutual defense against Soviet threats during the Cold War. Promotes secutiry and political cooperation and has expanded its member states post Cold war. Some countries include - US, France, Spain, UK
What was the Warsaw pact, reason for creation and some members of it
Made in 1955 by the Soviet Union and its Eastern European allies as a response to the creation of the NATO. It ensured Soviet control over Eastern Europe and mutual defense among members. It dissolved in 1991 after the Cold War ended. Some members included - USSR, East germany, Poland
Case Study - British Empire starting
3 coutnries joined to make the British Empire - Ireland, England, Scotland. It was known as the greatest empire in human history and called as the empire on which the sun never sets. It first colony outside Europe was Virgina in US, a conquest led by King James the 1st. The British Empire began with overseas colonies and trading posts established in the late 16th and early 17th centuries.
key factors leading to the rise of the british empire
economic interests,
exploration (led by Sir Francis Duke)
military power.
It wanted to gain more pwoer and spread Christianity and the British way of living
When was the peak of the British empire
In the 17th century, it srated the trasnatlanctic slave trade, furhter boosting its economy
Its victory in the 7 year war against france meant more colonies in Canada and Southern India
Its true peak was during the IR where it becmae ht estrongest (military, politcal and economic) nations inthe world.
For access to raw materials, it colonised countries in Africa, before reaching Inida, which is known as the jewel in British empire’s crown. It estabalsihed trade polices and the British East Indian compnay before finally forming the British Raj
It also gained profits in terms of money from the Treaty of Versailles post ww1
Some colonies of the british empire
Canada, Carrabien Islands, Large parts of Africa including Nigeria, Egypt and South Africa and the middle east
Rules over asia and ocenia in coutnries like India, Malaysia and Australia and New Zealand
hOW much money did the british empire steal from india roughly?
$45 trillion
How much of the world lands and population did the British empire control
1/4 of the earth’s land and 1/5th of the earth’s population
How did the British empire fall
- World War 2 led to severe economic contraints on the British Empire and made way for the rise of anti coloniol movements
- Nationalists movements such as Anti Partheid led by Mandela and Quit India movement eld by Mahtma Gandhi
- The rise of USSR and USA as global superpowers led to the downfall in improtance of the British empire
Positive impacts of the british empire
Spread the english language, making it the most apoken lang in the world rn
Spread the british education and legal system, which is ued by most of the world rn
Introduced railways and other inventiones such as communication lines to its colonies
Helped set up global trade networks like the East India company and with China
Spread the british way of living
Spread Christianity which is now one of the most followed religions in the world
Negtaive impacts of the british empire
Introduced slavery and racism with the transatlantic slave trade
They looted priceless artifacts of its colonies like the Kohinoor diamong from India
Exploited workers in its colonies, leading to their economic downfall and deindustrialization
Displaced local cultures in places like the India and Africa
Case Study Superpower - USA
Modern superpower, which reaming a laregly peaceful country with no intent of global dominance
It was called the ‘Sleeping giant’, however, this giant was awaken by Japan during the WW2, with the attack on Pearl Harbour
After ww1, it still reaming neutral, pushing for global cooperation through the Idea of the League of Nation
USA played a pivotal role in ensuring the allies victory in ww2
Post the war, its economy and industrial production grew rapidly, emerging as the worlds most powerful and and wealthy country
In the late 20th century and early 21st century, it started to expand its global influence through agreements such as the Marshall Plan, NATO, NAFTA.
It emerged as a superpwoer during the cold war, where it advocated for a capatalist adn democratic economic ideologie to be spread across the world
It also helped establsih supra national institue such as the UN, IMF and the World Bank
It has now positioned itseld as the protector of the free world
Impact of the USA as a superwpoer
Helped rebuild western Europe and Japan post ww2
Became a pioneer in science and tech by inventing the internet, smartphones, and apps and devices without which we cant function
Led humans into space with the formation of the world’s most advancement space program - NASA
Revolutionized world military by creating the strongest military weapon - Atomic Bomb
Spread the western culture - Western music (Rap and Hip Hop), Hollywood, Fashion, fast food (Mcdonalisation)
Who led British Epire’s first voyage to Virginia Islands
Sir francis Drake
