Flashcards
Superpowers- EQ1
Cards in this deck (37)
- 1What is the difference between a superpower and emerging superpower?Superpower: A nation that can project their power and influence around the world. E.g. ideology
Emerging: Country speculated to be or in the process of becoming a superpower. - 2Factors that define superpowers: Demographic Resources-Country w/ large pop seen as important.
-Can sustain eco growth w/ pop means more workers.
-Exceptions e.g. Qatar
-Resources can hold power e.g. Russia & its gas
-Exceptions e.g. export cheap raw materials - 3Factors that define superpowers: Political-5 permanent seat on UN security council (Only ones that can veto decisions)
e.g. UK, US, France, Russia, China.
-Can influence decisions of others.
-Often forge military alliance/ trade blocs - 4Factors that define superpowers: Economic Strength-Large economy means more influence.
-Control investment
-Determine eco policies that affect globe
-Use powerful currency e.g. $ - 5Factors that define superpowers: Military power-Threat of military force can be used to exert pressure.
-Exception: weapons owned representative of power e.g. nuclear weapons. - 6Factors that define superpowers: Cultural-How appealing a nation's way of life is e.g. values, ideology, film, arts, food.
-Capitalism most influential.
-Superpowers seek to project beliefs onto others e.g. 'Western values'- free speech, consumerism. - 7Factors that define superpowers: Size of country-Space for more natural resources
-Have more neighbours so can extend influence further.
-Exceptions: British Empire - 8What does the spectrum of power consist of?Hard power: Military
Economic power, aid, trade
Soft power: Culture, ideology - 9What is the difference between soft and hard power?Soft power is the power of persuasion. E.g. countries make policies look attractive
‘Hard power’ influence by force such as military action or the threat of it. - 10Give an example of how the US/UK exert their influence by means of hard and soft power?-NATO = security alliance to safeguard ally's freedom by political and economic means.
-Mutual cooperation/benefits
-Western culture: English, music, Hollywood, BBC - 11Mechanics of maintaining power has changed over time: Mackinder's Heartland Theory (Geo-strategic location theory)Heartland = Eurasia e.g. USSR
He argued it’s a key geo-strategic region in the world- control of it means control of the globe’s human/physical resources. - 12Why was Mackinder's Heartland theory (Geo-strategic location theory) important?-Persuades west that Russia needed to be 'contained', i.e. prevented from spreading outward by taking over new areas close by.
-Reinforced idea that control of physical resources (land, mineral wealth) was important. - 13Why is Mackinder's Heartland theory (Geo-strategic location theory) outdated?-Modern military technology e.g. inter-continental ballistic missiles- size no longer means protection.
-Physical resources traded internationally; less need to have them domestically.
-War/conflict seen as abnormal now. - 14What was the imperial era?Imperial era: 1500-1950 dominated by empires. E.g. The British Empire.
Uni-polar world: One state that exercises most influence in the world. They have no competitors. - 15How as the British Empire founded?Founded on exploration and sea power. Tensions between Spain & England meant competition such as to explore the world.
The Royal Navy dominated the seas so provided a link between home & colonies. Relied on 'hard' power but used 'soft' power also to introduce western culture. - 16Three historical stages of the British Empire:Mercantilist: Small colonies set up & focus on trade e.g. slaves, raw materials.
Imperial: Colonies extended inland, western culture & tech introduced.
Decolonisation: WW2 bankrupt UK + tensions w/ colonies. - 17Give an example of a country colonised by the British Empire.India:
-Introduced economic development e.g. extensive railway network, medicine. Trade increased & improved.
-Used caste system to advantage, injustices committed e.g. Amritsar massacre. - 18What is a multi-polar world?Multi-polar: many broadly equal powers, with regional influence but less global influence.
- 19What is the difference between colonialism and neo-colonialism?Colonialism: military force, imposing gov, social status between colonisers & colonised, setting 1 ethnic/religious group as superior.
Neo-colonialism: Remain under control overseas, eco imperialism, indirect control. - 20How is power exerted in the neo-colonial era?-Alliances: NATO
-Aid: may come with conditions that benefit developed country providing it.
-TNCs
-Term of trade: developing export materials but developed sold it at a higher price.
-Global finance/debt (Structural Adjustment Policies) - 21How did the USSR rise to a bi-polar world superpower status?-Dictatorship, propaganda, sphere of influence, rigged elections, scapegoating (Tsar), cult of personality,
-Fear: The great purge, gulags, KBG
-Alliance: Warsaw pact
-Nuclear weapons (arms race) - 22How did the USA rise to a bi-polar world superpower status?-Containment of communism
-Eco influence: (world bank)
-Alliance: NATO
-Exploitation of material/people. - 23Why did the USSR lose the Cold War?-Size of economy half the size of USA.
-Arms race: Expensive & could not beat US
-Star wars: weaponisation of outer space (intercept ussr strike), USSR feared it & could not compete.
Invasion of Afghanistan: USA supported rebels going against USSR that invaded. - 24Emerging nations: BRICSBrazil: gold/diamond/iron, rainforest
Russia: Oil & gas
India: coal
China: some coal
South Africa - 25Does BRICS make sense?-GDP totalled about $16 trillion (2012)
-Similar to EU ($17 trillion) & US ($16 trillion)
-But China alone makes up about 55% of BRICS GDP
-49% of BRICS military spending
-If remove China out, much less powerful. - 26What is a demographic dividend?The accelerated economic growth that may result from a decline in a country's birth/ death rates and the subsequent change in the age structure of the population.
- 27How does having a demographic dividend benefit an emerging nation?This characteristic common with emerging nations.
-Youthful populations: large workforce
-Falling fertility rates: Don't need to support large young or old population. - 28Emerging power: India Positives-Foreign investment, allow capitalism
-$55 billion of defence budget = weapons
-4th most powerful military in world
-Strong geopolitical allies e.g. US, allows use of their borders as conflict w/ neighbours
-Close to getting permanent seat at UN
-GDP grew to $2 trillion by 2017 - 29Emerging power: India Negatives-Issues w/ corruption (79th).
-9/10 Indians have made a bribe before.
-Income inequality
-Caste system (based on ethnicity/family)
-Regional tensions e.g. Pakistan - 30Emerging power: Brazil Positives & Negatives-Economy dominates South America
-61% military spending from Brazil
-Amazon rainforest makes 60% of Brazil
-Rely on agriculture, 20% land clear for it
-Corruption
-Relies too much on raw material exports
-Crime - 31Emerging power: China Positives-Belt & road initiative (infrastructure designed to reroute global trade)
-7/10 top global construction firms are Chinese as result of BRI.
-Challenges status of US
-Huge pop
-permanent seat on UN council
-Rapid eco growth - 32Emerging power: China Negatives-Lending money to areas involved but some cannot pay back e.g. Sri Lanka so instead allow China control over their ports
-Ageing pop
-poor human rights record - 33Emerging power: Russia Positives-Resource power e.g. oil/gas
-Permanent member of UN security council
-8500 warheads
-Geographic advantage: presence in middle east - 34Emerging power: Russia Negatives-Spend less that $100 billion on defence spending (2013)
-Demographic poor: ageing
-Too dependent on oil/gas
-Extreme levels of inequality - 35What was Rostow's Modernisation theory?5 stage model that outlines phase country must pass to develop/gain power.
1. Traditional society: agriculture
2. Preconditions: produce more, less work
3. Take-off: industrial period, secondary
4. Drive to maturity: cheap, fast dev
5. Age of high mass consumption - 36What was Frank's dependency theory?Split world into developed core countries & underdeveloped peripheral countries.
Developing remain weak while helping maintain/increase power of developed. E.g. cheap exports of raw materials sold for higher price at core countries. - 37What was the world systems theory, popularised by Wallerstein?3-tier model: core, periphery, semi-periphery.
Cycles of growth/stagnation which allow countries to shift between tiers, leading to changing patterns of power over time. E.g. Cold war, industrial revolution
Information
- Description
- EQ1: What are superpowers and how have they changed over time? Key idea 1: Geopolitical powers stems from a range of human and physical characteristics of superpowers. Key idea 2: Patterns of power change over time and how they can be uni-, bi- or multi-polar. Key idea 3: Emerging powers vary in their influence on people and the physical environment, which can change rapidly overtime.
- Created by
- Qashrina Collier · May 2021
- Updated
- May 13, 2021
- Views
- 15
- Rating