Edexcel A-Level Geography - Superpowers

Superpower

Nation able to influence others, anywhere in world as a dominant force.

Superpower factors

Big economy, large military, influential culture, political power and resources.

Soft Power

Persuade others to follow a countries lead with use of policies.

Hard Power

Ability of a country/countries to use direct military force or economic power to force a country into submission.

Smart Power

Soft power used in a covert way (EU).

Mackinder Theory

Idea that hard power important for world domination . Outdated idea that the Heartland is Eastern Europe and whoever controls the region controls the World.

Unipolar World

World dominated by 1 power (USA).

Bipolar World

World dominated by 2 powers with different ideologies (Cold War).

Multipolar World

World dominated by many competing regional powers.

Neo-colonisation

Control through aid, alliance, TNCs, trade and debt

E.g. Enforced capitalism in Indonesia and privatisation without use of foreign forces (yet 1m communists killed).

Hegemony

Superpower dominance over others.

E.g. (US military 1m soldiers and $640bn/year, Blue water navy).

Subtle hegemony

Power through culture E.g. Mussolini common sense approach as he entrenched his values within society.

BRICS Nations

Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa

G20

EU and 19 states that compose 85% GDP and 65% population.

Emerging Renewables

More investment in green energy in developing nations. E.g. India produces 35GW and China installed 15.9GW of onshore turbines.

Emerging Nations Environmental Impacts

60% China's waterways polluted; 690,000 ha of forest lost in Indonesia; India has 1/2 of worlds most polluted cities.

Japan Lost Decade

1980s = GDP higher than UK or USA until property burst 1989. Economy barely grown since 1995, suffering with 4.6% interest and ageing population against more competitive Asian nations.

Rustow Model

Economic development growth from traditional society (Amazon) to high mass consumer society (USA).

Dependency Theory

Core and underdeveloped periphery nations

Developed exploit underdeveloped nations and keep them poor.

World Systems Theory

Theory originated by Immanuel Wallerstein and illuminated by his three-tier structure, proposing that social change in the developing world is inextricably linked to the economic activities of the developed world.

IGOs

An intergovernmental organization (or international governmental organization; IGO) is an organization composed primarily of sovereign states (referred to as member states), or of other intergovernmental organizations. E.g. World trade organization.

Ivory Coast

Developing country, but regionally wealthy ($1,000/capita). Largest cocoa exporter - cocoa banned until set minimum wage.

Positives = deprived aid by IMF until 2013 fair elections.

Positive/negatives = $14bn debt cancelled when electricity privatised, allowed education investment when banking opened.

TNC

Can be state owned (largest 12 are in China) or publicly traded. Fortune 500 $1.7tn revenue 2014.

TNC Impacts

Economically = outcompete/invest small businesses

Culturally = export influential consumer icons and their cultural links (Coca Cola)

Innovation = 85% patent royalty money goes to USA/EU/JP, benefits developed nations.

UN Security Council

1946 by 5 allies (permanent members). 10 non-permanent members to represent nations from continents/ 2 years. Power = sanctions, military action, peacekeeping

International Court of Justice

Headquartered at the Hague, the Court started work in April of 1946. The Court usually hears only cases brought before it by any of the 189 U.N. Member States, but has made several concessions over the years.

NATO

North Atlantic Treaty Organization; an alliance made to defend one another if they were attacked by any other country; US, England, France, Canada, Western European countries.

ANZUS

Pact Treaty between Australia, New Zealand and the US, Signed in 1951, providing for their mutual defence against armed attack in the Pacific region.

EU

European Union - Set up 1956 by 6 nations on the basis of free trade. Policies to reduce poverty, environmental issues. Free movement of people since 1992.

China Consumption

Since 2000: Meat consumption up 99%; Fruit/nuts up 98%; Perfume up 133%; Pharmaceuticals up 87%;

1bn own a phone.

Middle Class Growth

Grew by 500m between 2000-2014. China predicted to have 1bn middle class by 2030.

Middle Class Growth Impacts

More use of resources; CO2 53% higher than 1990 levels; China emissions up 286% since 1990; Rare element use (Europium = Nuclear).

China on Climate

2014 accord could limit economy; Post 2008 slowdown drawn greater attention to the environment - now heavy green investment ($126 billion in 2017).

EU on Climate

Agricultural subsidies encouraged intensive; Farming/fertilisers; Eutrophication; More policy to protect farmers rather than environment (France).

Russia on Climate

Russia continues to use fossil fuels as its main source of energy. There are no targets in place to phase out or reduce fossil fuels. The country’s current share of renewable energy is below 5% and there is no ambitious target for increasing the clean energy share. 64th in 2025 CCPI

USA on Climate

Pulled out of Paris Accord in 2017 (sceptics). Set to re-join in 2021. CO2 reductions cost for companies.

Reinvestment into the coal industry.

Arctic Tension

1/4 gas and oil reserves; Pressure to extract increasing - especially with higher prices; Council manages the region.

Anti-Counterfeiting

WIPO protects inventions. IP criticised for patent money claims. Fake models 70% from China 2013.

Russia Sphere of Influence

Considers Russian speaking nations under their influence. Putin trying to stop nations joining EU.

2014 Ukraine conflict. Finland in NATO as of 2023.

Spartly Islands

Heavily contested, with China claiming all of this territory. China built military bases from scratch. Tensions with Taiwan and USA.

Gulf War 1991

Saddam Hussein's invasion of Kuwait despite peace treaty and refusal to abandon Iraqi occupation.

Land Grabbing

Wealthy countries buying land and water resources in poorer countries to protect their own food security and to turn profits.

Land Grabbing Impacts

Greater interdependence between China and Africa; Environmental concerns from oil spillage and deforestation; Coltan imports contaminated DRC; Over 100,000 jobs created, but high skilled taken by Chinese (200,000 2014).

Middle East Conflict

Nations created by foreigners and their alliances intensify conflict. Taliban, Turkey against Kurds, Shia/Sunni divide, resources scramble

EU Challenges

Power differences and other disputes (movement of labour, corporate tax rates, farm reform) in its complex governance structure. Economic growth and development disparities among members exacerbated by global economic slowdown.

USA Challenges

$19tn debt 2016 but TNCs and $ powerful with growing population (415 million 2060). Race relations strained, 74% overweight (health costs 17% GDP).

Navy

A fleet of ships; all the warships of a nation.

Nuclear Weapons

Weapons in which the explosive potential is controlled by nuclear fission or fusion.

Air Power

The use of the area above the surface of the earth to your advantage, and often entails denying that same advantage to an adversary. Used a lot during Arab spring. The USA has 3318 combat aircraft.

Drones

Robotic aircraft, used extensively by the military.

Regularly strike suspected militants

Space Race

US budget $17.6bn (EU 5.5bn, Russia 5.6bn)

Asian nations are increasing spending on this (Especially India).

Superpower Futures

US Hegemony, Regional Mosaic, New Cold War or Asian Century?