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what are the key features of a superpower?
greater/ disproportionate power and influence (political + economic)
dominance globally + universally
capacity to affect people and countries around the world
what are the different levels of superpower nations (bottom to top)?
regional power
emerging power
superpower
hyperpower
what is a hyperpower?
an unchallenged superpower (no rivals) that is dominant in all aspects of power
what does regional power mean?
leads on a continental, but not global, scale
what does emerging power mean?
globally influential, but only in certain areas of influence
give examples of regional powers
Japan, Mexico and Nigeria
give examples of emerging powers
Russia, China, Brazil and India
give an example of a superpower
EU
give an example of a hyperpower
USA
what are the four main pillars of power?
military, geography, ideology and politics
what characteristics does a superpower nation have?
economic base
military
geography
ideology
politics
how does a large army make a nation powerful?
can take land from other countries
act as a deterrent (makes other countries fearful)
e.g. Ukraine reliant on UK military support
how does having nuclear power make a nation powerful?
deterrent
e.g. China + Russia
how does having resources make a nation powerful?
have ability to trade these resources
don’t have to be reliant on other countries
other countries rely on the country with resources
how can having a large population make a nation powerful?
larger workforce so has potential for stronger economy
more taxes paid, which contribute to economy
how does ideology make a nation powerful?
other countries are influenced by the superpowers culture + idolise their veiws
e.g. American dream
how does being a member of international organisations give a nation power?
they have a say on international law, so have some control over laws other countries must follow
may have veto power, which gives them more power
alliances with other nations make the superpower more intimidating
e.g. NATO: members are threatening to non-member countries
how does having a strong economic base make a nation powerful?
they have the money to invest in the pillars of power (military, population, politics etc.)
having more money means they’re less reliant on other countries + can invest in other countries, so culture spreads + countries are in debt/ reliant on them
why does having the characteristics of a superpower nation not necessarily mean a country will be powerful?
a country can have one or more pillar without the others (e.g. Singapore is economically developed but doesn’t have a large population)
some aspects (e.g. a large population) can bring challenges without an economic base to support this
who came up with the idea of hard + soft power?
Joseph Nye in 1990
he argued that countries use a range of mechanisms of power to influence other countries
describe the spectrum of power
spectrum of hard power to soft power
military action or its threat
economic sanctions + diplomatic actions
coercive policy
political influence, moral authority + economic influence
cultural attractiveness
is military action hard or soft power?
hard power
give examples of military action being used as hard power
large air, naval + land forces
military bases in foreign countries giving geographical reach
nuclear weapons
military alliances (e.g. NATO)
diplomatic threats to use force if negotiation fails
use of force
are economic sanctions and diplomatic actions hard or soft power?
hard power (but not as hard as military action)
give examples of how economic sanctions + diplomatic actions can be used as hard power
using economic sanctions against countries (e.g. trade tariffs + restrictions)
e.g. Russia + Ukraine (FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THIS)
is coercive policy hard or soft power?
in the middle
give examples of how coercive policies are used to exert power
providing allies with economic + technical assisstance
using aid to influence policy
using aid in return for certain actions (tied aid), usually which benefit their own country
are political influence, moral authority + economic influence hard or soft power?
soft power (but not as soft as cultural attractiveness)
give examples of how political influence, moral authority + economic influence are used to exert power
favouring certain trade partners by reducing inport tariffs
trade blocs + alliances (e.g. EU + North Atlantic free trade agreement)
membership of + say in intergivernmental organisations (e.g. WTO)
being seen to do the right thing + make morally right decisions (e.g. responding to human rights abuses + tackling climate change)
is cultural attractiveness hard or soft power?
soft power
give examples of how cultural attractiveness is used to exert power
using the media to promote a particular image + message
exporting culture in the form of film + TV
gradually persuading others that a particular action or view is in their interests
globally recognised brands
which country is the most powerful in terms of military strength?
United States
which country is the second most powerful in terms of military strength?
Russia
which country is the third most powerful in terms of military strength?
China
what is the United States military spending?
$876 billion
approximately 3 times greater than China’s
approximately 10 times greater than Russia’s
greater than the total of the next nine most powerful countries in terms of military strength
US aims for full spectrum dominance (be on top in all aspects of military power- personnel, cyber security etc.)
have a global presence so are able to act quickly
roughly how many times greater is the United States military spending than China?
3 times
roughly how many times greater is the United States military spending than Russia?
10 times
define nuclear weapon
an explosive device that derives its destructive force from nuclear reaxtion (fission or fission + fusion)
what is the Non Proliferation Treaty?
an international treaty (of 191 countries) with the objectives of:
preventing the spread of nuclear weapons
promoting cooperation in the peaceful uses of nuclear energy
further the goal of achieving nuclear disarmament
how many countries are part of the Non Proliferation Treaty?
191
name five states which are part of the Non Proliferation Treaty
USA
Russia
UK
France
China
what does soft power include?
TNCs
art
media
education systems
work of NGOs
how does soft power work?
TNCs, art, media, education systems, the work of NGOs etc. build attractiveness + a sense that some countries are more right than others
according to Joseph Nye, what 3 resources does the soft power of a country primarily rest on?
its culture (in places where it’s attractive to others)
its political values
its foreign policies (when they’re seen as legitimate + having moral authority)
what factors affect the soft power of a country?
military conflict harms soft power
strong + stable economy
dominant nation brands
leader in science
influential in arts + entertainment
internationally admired leaders
helpful to countries in need
supporting global efforts to counter climate change
good relations with other countries
safe, secure + friendly
politically stable + well governed
hosting major events (e.g. Olympics)
explain why soft power changes over time
changes in government
what are the advantages of hard power?
quick + immediate outcome
what are the disadvantages of hard power?
can be short lived
depends on size of economy (harder for small state)
forces people to act in a certain way so may lead to dissent
what are the advantages of soft power?
change lasts longer due to actually changing peoples perceptions
depends less on size of state
changes attitudes so people act voluntarily
what are the disadvantages of soft power?
takes time to build up
historical legacy + societal system can prevent soft power developing
intangible + harder to build up
what is the best approach in terms of hard + soft power?
best to have both- strong military needed but also invest heavily in alliances, partnerships + institutions
smart power: capacity to combine elements of hard+ soft power in ways that are mutually reinforcing
soft power is more effective in contemporary international system
demise of hard power caused by changes in world order, whilst strength of soft power is based on its endurance + sustainability
define smart power
capacity to combine elements of hard + soft power in ways that are mutually reinforcing
what mechanisms of power were used in the past
direct control (e.g. colonisation)
they would use war + superior military power to gain direct control of territories to impose their own mechanisms like legal systems, culture + economics
this would be done to fulfil a superpowers own agendas, such as exploitation of raw materials or cheap labour, but in recent decades there’s been a shift towards more political agendas
British Empire held sway over 412 million people (23% of the world’s pop.), so it’s political, linguistic + cultural legacy is widespread)
what mechanisms of power are most commonly used now
indirect economic control/ neo-colonialism (e.g. trade, aid + debt)
superpowers now use more subtle ways to impose their influence + power on other territories
how is aid used by superpowers to impose their power (through indirect economic control/ neo-colonialism)
aid is given to countries the superpower wants to create or maintain relationships with
aid is meant to be paid back to the country who supplied it (tied aid), so countries who receive aid are in debt to superpowers
superpowers offer aid to countries who have no choice but to accept it, but will in future be able to be manipulated because of their debt to the superpower
how is debt used by superpowers to impose their power (through indirect economic control/ neo-colonialism)
aid is owed back in the form of a debt to the superpowers that supplied it
this channels money from the developing wolrd into the developed world, increasing polarisation between the two
economies + power become polarised
as developing countries pay money back to superpowers of the developed world, they become more vulnerable as the superpowers gain more power
this leads to superpowers having greater power over vulnerable countries
debt relief schemes like HIPC (heavily indebted poor countries) are often still exerting control over countries paying back their debt- in order to qualify for the scheme they must follow certain rules/ policies
how are trade + TNCs used by superpowers to impose their power (through indirect economic control/ neo-colonialism)
TNCs can have huge influence over more vulnerable territories (e.g. some developing countries relax their trading laws in order to attract TNCs to boost their economy)
superpowers have freedom to choose where they import goods from + to, which can have massive impact on global economies + superpowers use this to manipulate other countries to follow certain trade rules or accept certain trade deals which benefit the superpower
low commodity export prices contrast with high prices for imported goods from developed countries, inhibiting development in non-developed countries
how are military alliances used by superpowers to impose their power (through indirect economic control/ neo-colonialism)
military alliances between developed nations + superpowers make the developing nation dependent on military aid + equipment from the superpower
define unipolar
a world dominated by one superpower (e.g. British Empire or US dominating world today)
define bipolar
a world in which two superpowers with opposing ideologies vie for power (e.g. USA + USSR during the Cold War)
define multi-polar
a more complex world where many superpowers + emerging powers compete for power in different regions
who were the superpowers from 1800-1919 + was power uni, bi or multi polar
Britain
unipolar
who were the superpowers from 1919-1945 + was power uni, bi or multi polar
USA, Japan, UK + Germany
multipolar
who were the superpowers from 1945-90 + was power uni, bi or multi polar
USA + USSR
bipolar
who were the superpowers from 1990-2030 + was power uni, bi or multi polar
USA
unipolar
who are likely to be the future superpowers + will power be uni, bi or multi polar
USA, China or Europe
unipolar
when was WW1
1914-1918
when was WW11
1939-1945
when was the Cold War
1945-1990
when was the fall of the Berlin wall
1989
how did Britain maintain + then lose power from 1800-1945
Maintain:
direct political control
rebellions were put down by force
spread of British culture (indirect)
Decline:
increased uprising for independence
military spending during WW1 affected economy
decline of British Empire
how did USA + Russia maintain + then lose power from 1945-1990 (during Cold War)
Maintain:
proxy wars: USA + USSR supported sides in conflict but didn’t directly fight each other
US had worldwide military bases
Decrease:
trying to prevent spread of communism
dissolution of soviet union (states gained independence
how did USA maintain power from 1990-2030
scope of influence
soft power
superior military capability
big TNCs, hollywood etc.
outline Mackinder’s heartland theory
a geo-strategic location theory
who rules East Europe commands the Heartland: who rules the hEartland commands the World Island: who rules the World Island commands the world
continental land area from Russia to China + from the Himalayas to the Arctic, which is protected from invasion by the sea
Heartland is key geo-strategic location in the world because control of it commands a huge portion of the world’s physical + human resources
what are some criticisms of Mackinder’s Heartland theory
outdated: with modern military technology it is possible to hit deep inside another country’s territory- size is no longer a protection
physical resources are traded internationally, so there’s much less need to have them domestically
how has the importance of hard + soft power changed over time
hard power has always been important (e.g. colonial expansion of the British Empire, WW1 + WW2)
soft power has become more common as a way of gaining influence + maintaining power, by creating economic + political alliances (e.g. UK through TV + films, finance + being 6th largest economy so attractive to FDIs)
soft power diplomacy is relatively more important in the current wolrd, however Russia vs Ukraine war + escalation of conflict in Middle East has highlighted + renewed the importance of hard power as a way of gaining power
both are important + they interrelate
hard power is necessary, but to maintain this power soft power may be more significant in the long term
how have the USA used hard power
1991: organised + led the coalition to expel Iraqi forces that had invaded Kuwait in the First Gulf War
2003: invaded Iraq in the Second Gulf War when economic sanctions (softer power) failed to persuade President Saddam Hussein to change policy
how have Russia used hard power
invaded Georgia in 2008 + Ukraine in 2014, claiming to be protecting ethnic Russians
2022: invaded Ukraine (war still ongoing)
how have the UK used soft power
6th largest economy so an attractive market + source of TNC FDI
BBC worldwide news + programmes
films (e.g. Pride + Prejudice), TV (e.g. Downton Abbey) + literature (e.g. Harry Potter)
London dominates international finance, banking + law- setting standards + values
how have the USA used soft power (americanisation)
TNC headquarters like Apple + Coca Cola
Hollywood film industry
power in IGOs
moral authority
what is China’s Belt + Road initiative
originally devised to link East Asia + Europe through physical infrastructure (e.g. networks of railways, energy pipelines + highways)
has expanded to Africa, Oceania + Latin America
broadens China’s economic + political influence
launched in 2013 by President Xi Jinping
US + some of Asia fear it’s a Trojan horse for China-led regional development + military expansion
so far, 147 countries (2/3 of worlds pop. + 40% of global GDP) have signed on to projects
China’s already spend an estimated $1 trillion
predicted to cost $8 trillion
what are potential benefits of China’s Belt + Road initiative
develop new trade links for China, cultivate export markets, boost Chinese incomes + export China’s excess productive capacity
boost global economic links to China’s neglected western regions
restructure China’s economy to avoid the middle income trap (when wages increase + quality of life increases as low skilled manufacturing increases, but countries struggles to shift to producing higher value goods + services)
what’s the middle income trap
when wages increase + quality of life increases as low skilled manufacturing increases, but countries struggles to shift to producing higher value goods + services
what are potential costs of China’s Belt + Road initiative
expensive (predicted to cost $8 trillion)
lots of low income BRI countries struggle to repay loans which may lead to a debt crisis
connected with climate change: non-renewable energy investment has made up nearly half of BRI spending
when was power unipolar + how stable was this
British Empire in past + USA now
dominant superpower has vested interest in stability which leads to strenuous efforts to be dominant everywhere
in reality this isn’t possible, leading to frequent unpredicatble + minor conflicts + the dominant superpower being overstretched repeatedly (e.g. British Empire)
when was power bipolar + how stable was this
Cold War (1945-90)
both superpowers need to avoid all out conflicts which leads to proxy wars
Cold War suggests a stable but scary situation where superpowers compete but avoid direct conflict
when was power multipolar + how stable was this
WW1 + WW2
future?
mix of rising + declining powers with complex alliances
weaker powers trying to defend what they have + trying to expand
difficult for multiple powers to exert their influence at the same time
war between Russia + Ukraine + escalation in Middle East are examples of instability as new powers try to emerge
what are proxy wars
wars fought between smaller countries each representing the interest of larger powers + may have support from them (e.g. Cold War- Russia vs USA)
explain one reason why countries choose to join economic alliances (4 marks)
Example answer 1:
economic alliances can strengthen levels of interdependence
resulting in free-trade agreements
allowing for tax, tariff + quota-free trade between member countries
thus strengthening a country’s economy
Example answer 2:
economic alliances allow greater trade between member countries
which can result in national economies increasing as a result of increased influx of trade payments
greater trade also means that consumers have access to a greater variety of products
which drives the country’s economy
Example answer 3:
ecomomic alliances allow countries to access new markets
due to removal of trade barriers + quotas
therefore increasing the range of goods available for consumers
driving the country’s economy
assess the effectiveness of hard power in maintaining the status of superpowers (12 marks)
Mark scheme:
AO1:
a superpower is a country with the ability to project its power + influence on other countries using its economic, political, military + cultural strengths
hard power is based on military intervention, coercive diplomacy + economic sanctions + relies on tangible power resources such as armed forces or economic means
Nye first coined terms hard + soft power in 1990 + he argued that in 21st century the most successful countries are those that combine hard + soft power (smart power)
AO2:
historically, superpowers such as British Empire used hard, direct power to conquer lands by force, whilst using its global navy to protect global supply routes
ultimately, hard power wasn’t sufficient for the British Empire to maintain its superpower status due to increasing demands for independence from colonised countries
countries such as Germany, USA + Japan began to mirror hard power approach through increasing military spending resulting in emergence of a multi-polar world from 1919-39
USA was only successful country, using hard power with soft power to spread the American Dream
dominance of hard power in this era was influenced by Mackinder’s Heartland theory: land stretching from Russia to China + Himalayas to the Arctic was a geo-stategic location. This influenced the USA containment policy of positioning military bases + expansion of NATO
at end of WW2, bipolar wolrd emerged with the dominance of USA + USSR- both used hard power through proliferation of nuclear weapons
Assessment:
use of hard power can get results but it’s expensive + risky, as other countries can view military action as unnecessary of illegal, resulting in them losing allies + moral authority (e.g. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022)
soft power has begun to play a more significant role in maintaining superpower status (e.g. USA continues to dominate through use of soft power through its TNCs + media)
how are the demographics + GDP of current + emerging superpowers predicted to change in the future
China + USA more equal in terms of power by 2030 + India will be a more significant global player
EU considered a superpower, but it ageing pop. brings high costs associated with unemployment + pensions + EU economy has been weak since global financial crisis in 2008. Also, 28 nations of EU dont agree easily, so decisions are compromises that weaken its global message
future superpowers are likely to emerge from which two groups of countries
BRIC (Brazil, Russia, India + China)
MINT (Mexico, Indonesia, Nigeria + Turkey)
what are the BRIC countries
Brazil
Russia
India
China
what are the MINT countries
Mexico
Indonesia
Nigeria
Turkey
what gives India future superpower potential
predicted to have largest population (>1,500 million) + third greatest GDP (US$7 trillion) by 2030
large population gives them the potential to become much richer
what gives China future superpower potential
predicted to have 2nd largest population (1,400 million) + 2nd largest GDP (US$22 trillion) by 2030
large (ageing) population means there’s potential to shift from manufacturing based economy to services + consumerism
what gives the USA futures uperpower potential
predicted to have greates GDP (US$25 trillion) + 3rd largest population (360 million) by 2030
economic + population growth likely to be moderate rather than rapid
SWOT analysis (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities + threats) of Turkey as an emerging superpower
strengths:
well-educated, youthful population that is capable of working in skilled secondary, tertiary + wuaternary jobs can increase output
EU candidate nation so it would be able to trade with EU members freely if it joined the EU
Weaknesses:
large scale armed conflict in 1980s + 90s may reduce chance of trade with other nations or jeopardise them joing EU
Opportunities:
memebr of NATO so is able to draw on military support from other members if required
EU candidate nation so could exert greater economic or political influence on fellow member nations if it joins
Threats:
threat of war against Syria- high cost would slow economic growth
negotiations over joining EU have been suspended due to human rights concerns
SWOT analysis (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities + threats) of Indonesia as an emerging superpower
Strengths:
low public debt so can use money to invest to make them more powerful
has a relatively functional democracy that has ensured some degree of public stability
has a large population, giving it a large pool of workers that contribute to the GDP, while ensuring a large domestic market to support its economy
Weaknesses:
doesn’t have strong military + not much economic power
high levels of poverty
porr infrastructure
Opportunities:
youthful, potentially dynamic population means there’s potential for economic growth as young people are educated + are able to get jobs
large untapped resources which could be exploited for money + trade with other countries for economic growth or could be used for leverage with other countries
Threats:
deforestation is a growing environmental disaster + could lead to lower economic growth in tourism sector
SWOT analysis (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities + threats) of Mexico as an emerging superpower
Strengths:
large population
part of NAFTA trade bloc
one of leading economies in the world
11th highest GDP
in 2014 they produced 3.2% of worlds oil + has 11 billion barrels of reserves- highly sought after resource so world partly depends on them
US dependent on Mexico for exports
US shifted its imports away from China towards Mexico which had a huge impact on Mexico’s growth
Weaknesses:
high crime rates gives it a poor global image, whcih affects soft power (less influential)
onbesity= higher healthcare costs= less money to spend on military
well-educated, skilled workers migrate from Mexico= reduces skill levels + brain drian= ageing population + high dependency ratio
Opportunities:
slowly becoming more democratic= more moral authority= more influence becuase they’re making good decision
increased trade= increased GDP + better relationships with other countries
despite some of population moving to US, roughly equal number are drawn by economic opportunities to return (combats brain drain + ageing pop.)
Threats:
increasingly obese population= high healthcare costs
cheap Mexican production is taken advantage of by USA (they barter for it to be even cheaper)