Superpowers EQ1

Superpower

A superpower is a country with the ability to project its dominating power and influence anywhere in the world.

Hard power

The use of military or economic influence to force a country to behave in a particular way.

Soft power

Persuasion of countries to act a certain way, on the basis that the superpower is respected and appealing through the use of political or cultural influence

What are the 6 defining characteristics of a superpower

Economic, political, military, cultural, resources, demographic

What is a key economic characteristic of a superpower?

A large GDP, high percentage of international trade, and currency used as a reserve currency.

What is the GDP of the USA, the world's largest economy?

$18.5 trillion

How does political power manifest for a superpower?

Through the ability to influence the policies of other countries and dominance in negotiations.

What factors can determine voting power in international organizations?

Economic contribution, historical role in founding the organization, and population.

What is a key military characteristic of a superpower?

Military power with global reach to achieve geopolitical goals.

What are some indicators of military power?

Army size, defense spending, nuclear weapons, ICBMs, size of blue water navy, and presence in international military organizations.

Which country has the most active nuclear warheads?

Russia, with 1790 active nuclear warheads.

What is a cultural characteristic of a superpower?

The ability to influence beliefs, values, ideology, and lifestyles in other countries.

How can cultural influence be achieved?

Through media dominance, TNCs, migrants, and imposition of viewpoints in international agreements.

What percentage of the world's 20 largest TNCs does the USA have?

27%

What demographic characteristic is important for superpowers?

A large population that supports a large diaspora and workforce.

How does a large population assist economic power?

It creates a large market and economies of scale, leading to more profit.

Which country has the largest population?

China, with 1382 million people.

What is the significance of natural resources for superpowers?

Control of access to resources like energy and minerals is essential for economic growth and military power.

How can natural resources contribute to economic power?

They can be exported at high prices, providing inputs for economic growth.

What is the relationship between military power and demographic power?

Demographic power determines the number of military personnel that can be deployed.

How does economic power relate to military investment?

Economic power determines the budget available for military technology investment.

What was China's Belt and Road Initiative

2013 - a large scale investment project into transport and infrastructure to improve efficiency of resource exploitation, connectivity and exports.