superpowers

What’s a superpower

Nation that’s able to project its influence and be dominant on a global scale

What are the three different type of patterns of power across the world

• Uni polar world means theres only one superpower

• Bipolar world is when there’s two superpowers

• Multipolar means there are multiple superpower

What’s a regional power

State or organisation that exerts significant influence and power within a particular geographical region but not on a global scale like a superpower

What’s an emerging power and example

sovereign stage or union of states with significant rising influence in global affairs e.g Brazil, India, China, Russia, Japan

What’s a hyper power and an example

Unchallenged superpower that’s dominant in all aspects of power e.g USA

What’s the criteria for a superpower

• Economic strength

• Political influence

• Culture/media

• Resources like coal,oil, diamonds

• Demographic

• Military strength e.g. army size and weapons

Why might size be included in the criteria for a superpower

Means greater natural resources, extends influence over a larger number of neighbours e.g Russia has ,argue land are with enormous volumes of natural resources and 14 neighbours

Why is demographic included in criteria for a superpower

• Sufficient number of workers to achieve economic growth e.g. China and India

• Larger population encourage economic growth through markets e.g. EU

• Some countries manage to promote significant economic growth without a large population e.g Singapore

• However,dependent ageing population like in Japan may have negative impacts on economic growth

• Population size affects military strength

• Why is political power important for superpower

Country can affect decisions of other countries because of international organisation and through negotiations between country’s politicians and heads of state. This could be because of military or economic strength so has more influence over other countries

Why is military strength important for superpowers

Countries with a large military may be seen as powerful but types of weapons owned is important like nuclear weapons owned by USA,UK, China, France. Geo strategic positioning of military bases is important - commanding land, air, space and sea in all areas of globe

Why is cultural influence important for superpower

Ability of a country to influence the beliefs m values, customs, lifestyle and ideologies of other countries. Achieved through the film, TV , music , internet, TNCs through foods, migrant populations bring food, dress , religious beliefs and music

What is hard power

Uses economic and military power to try and force countries to behave in certain ways e.g. economic: trade deals and sanctions like on Russia to stop invasion on Ukraine

Use of military- uses force, threats of action, forming military alliances e.g invasion of Afghanistan in 2001 after 9/11

What’s soft power

Use of political and cultural influence to try and persuade countries to behave in certain ways by diplomacy- use of persuasion using ambassadors, politicians and heads of state. Cultural - makes policies and way of life attractive and appealing, promotes beliefs and ideologies of the superpower

Why is UK considered a soft power

It has 281 diplomatic posts in 178 countries and territories. Relationships formed through Commonwealth and British Empire. Popularity of royal family and their role in diplomacy and maintains international relations. Culture- Shakespeare, Austen, Dickens, the Beatles, BBC is one of the worlds trusted broadcasters, Downton Abbey

What is smart power

Combination of hard and soft power

Historically how has power been gained and how has that changed over time

Military force used but now soft power is used

What is Mackinder’s Heartland Theory

• proposed in 1904,

• based on the fact that most of worlds natural resources are found in Asia and Europe.

• Heartland is an area bordered by mountains on three sides and the arctic to the north including China , India and rest of Europe so hard to invade

• Nation controlling heartland would gain control the rest of the world

• This influence world policy as the USA and many European countries believed that Russia needed to be controlled to prevent its dominance

What are criticism of the heartland theory

• Relies heavily on geo locational importance which has decline as technology and transportation have increased

• Large areas of heartland is uninhabitable

• Climate change lead to melted ice so enabled access to heartland

• Mostly applies to hard power influence

How was power directly maintained and controlled in 20th century

Through colonisation (direct colonial control)It was an imperial era , European powers invaded and took power in countries in Africa , Asia , America’s. This was done by large, powerful military forces like navies to transport forces overseas and protect sea routes, ships to transport good backs, large businesses to exploit resources overseas

What was the British Empire

An imperialist system which involved political ,economical and cultural control by the UK to exploit workforces and resources of countries.

How much of the world did the British Empire rule of over by 1922

25% of the worlds land area and 458 million people

What is the British Raj

Period of direct British rule over India from 1858 until the independence of India and Pakistan in 1947

how did the British empire use hard power to control directly in India

• 3 million forced to work in plantation in West Indies and South Africa

• East India Company responsible for 15% of imports coming from India into England

• 1857, East India company had 267,000 soldiers in India

How did the British Empire use soft power to control India

• Military personnel and civil servants taught Indians English - a colonial instrument to oppress the Indian mass

• Acculturation - tea and cricket introduced

• Modernised India with extensive rail networks- to transport coal, cotton, iron to British factories

• Hindu caste systems became more rigid especially between Hindus and Muslims.

• Better off classes educated in English schools, served in British army - joined British to rule their fellow Indians.

How was Indian exports affected by colonial rule

World exports feel from 27% to 2% as East India employees made fortunes. Indian textiles sold in greater volumes to buy slaves for new colonies which made the empire even more powerful.