A Level Edexcel Superpowers Enquiry Question 1

[7.1A] What is a superpower?

A nation with the ability to project its influence anywhere in the world and be a dominant global force.

[7.1A] What is an emerging power?

Emerging superpowers are countries with a large role in one of more superpower characteristics, and with growing influence.

[7.1A] What is an regional power?

Regional powers can project dominating power and influence over other countries within the continent or region. They are less powerful outside that region.

[7.1A] What are the 6 superpowers pillars?

Economic, political, military, cultural, demographic, and access to resources.

[7.1A] What is economic power and the characteristics?

This is usually seen as the base of the temple and it is prerequisite of power. A large powerful economy can give wealth to exploit resources and build a military. Influences trade, with a large GDP.

- Large GDP and high levels of trade.

- Home to many TNCs.

* US has highest percentage of the world's largest TNCs - 27%.

[7.1A] What is political power and the characteristics?

This is the ability to influence other nations through diplomacy (negotiation and decision-making that takes place between nations as a part of international relations).

- Permanent seat on UN Security Council.

- Many multilateral agreements (members of IGOs).

[7.1A] What is military power and the characteristics?

This can be used in two ways. Firstly, the threat of military action can be used as a deterrent and a bargaining chip and secondly, bargaining can be used to achieve geopolitical goals.

- High military budget.

- Large amount of hardware and personnel.

- Could command global military control.

[7.1A] What is cultural power and the characteristics?

This is the ability to influence the beliefs, values, ideology and way of life in other countries.

- It is usually achieved through a dominance of media such as film, TV, radio, and TNCs and migrants.

- Music, fashion, filmed, fast food, etc.

[7.1A] What is demographic power and the characteristics?

This looks at the age, gender, size and other characteristics of a population.

- A large population could be a large diaspora and workers at TNCs.

- Attracts skilled migrants and other works.

[7.1A] What is resource power and the characteristics?

This is the amount of physical and Human Resources a nation has access to, such as energy and minerals. These provide input for economic growth as can be exported as high prices. Human Resources involves level of skills in a nation and level of education.

- Able to export and control the supply of commodities.

- Multiple resources give greater energy security.

- Control of access to physical resources: energy and minerals.

- Links to economic power as it provides input for economic growth.

[7.1A] What is a hyperpower and what are some examples?

An unchallenged superpower that is dominant in all aspects of power, like USA from 1990-2010 when the Soviet Union disbanded.

[7.1B] What is hard power?

This is the use of military and economic influence to for a country to act in a particular way, such as trade deals and sanctions. Military can be action or the threat.

[7.1B] What is soft power?

This is the persuasion of countries to act in a particular way, usually using cultural influence, and political persuasion.

[7.1B] What are some examples of hard power?

- Russia trying to take over Crimea's land (2013).

- Military power with the USA declaring the war on terror by invading Afghanistan.

- USA have imposed economic sanctions on Iran.

[7.1B] What are some examples of soft power?

BBC:

- The British spread culture through the BBC, which is a widely trusted and unbiased news source.

- British TV dramas are exported around the world.

Diplomacy:

- The UK has one of the largest networks of embassies and high commissions.

Disney:

- American media, such as Disney are ways to spread culture.

[7.1B] How effective are hard and soft power?

Hard:

- Hard power can get results, but it is expensive and risky.

- May be seen as unnecessary or illegal so the aggressor may lose allies or moral authority.

- Hard power was once powerful, but now it's difficult to achieve global influence through hard power today.

- Use of military does not always work to achieve aims, as there can be a defence put up.

Soft:

- Whereas, soft power relies on countries having respected culture, values and politics.

- Low cost, may spread to other countries.

- Soft power may not persuade one nation to do as another says, especially if they are culturally and ideologically very different.

[7.1B] What are examples of economic power?

Provision of economic aid from one nation to another, such as economic and development aid. Trade agreements.

[7.1C] What is the Mackinder Heartland theory?

In the 19th century, the idea that power came from controlling vast land areas was important. In 1904, the British geographer Halford Mac-kinder produced a theory called the Heartland Theory.

- States that the heartland is an area of central asia, bordered by the Himalayas, the Russian Stepps and the Artic, so it's hard to invade due to the physical environment, so it was known as a power-base.

- His view was that other countries should work together to balance this 'Heartland' power, and make sure it did not become too dominant.

[7.1C] Why has Mackinder's Heartland theory become less important today?

- The interconnectedness of all countries through globalisation has made geo-strategic policies less important.

- Superpower countries may be more at threat online than from an invasion.

- Superpowers may get involved with proxy conflicts.

- TNCs have the ability to control global trade.

- Modern military technology (inter-continental ballistic missiles, drones, aircraft carriers, strike aircraft) can hit deep inside another country's territory - size is no longer a protection.

- Resources are traded now, less of a need to have them domestically.

- Soft power is more commonly used nowadays.

[7.1C] What influences has the heartland theory had?

- Persuaded USA, UK and other NATO countries that Russia needs to be contained, prevented from spreading outward by taking areas over.

- Reinforced importance of physical resources.

- Attempts after WW1 to limit Germany's ability to expand to the land area it controlled.

[7.2A] What is a unipolar world and an example?

This is when the world is dominated by one superpower, e.g the British Empire late 1500s-1960s.

[7.2A] What is a bipolar world and an example?

A bipolar world is one in which two superpowers, with opposing ideologies compete for power, e.g USA and USSR.

[7.2A] What's a multi-polar world?

A multi-polar world is when there are many broadly equal powers, with regional influence but less global influence.

[7.2A] What is colonialism?

Where one country gains political and economic control of another country, and settles their own people in their land.

[7.2A] What is the imperial era and what did it require?

This is when the world was dominated by empires.

- Powerful navies to transport soldiers and equipment to areas of potential conquest, and then protect sea-routes and coastlines from enemies.

- Large and advanced armed forces to conquer territory.

- Businesses to exploit resources.

- People from home countries to run the colonies.

- Merchant ships.

[7.2A] What is acculturation?

Two or more cultures meeting and interacting, which leads to the transfer of a dominant culture's ideas.

[7.2A] What are the two phases of empire building?

- Mercantile Phase.

- Imperial Phase.

[7.2A] What is the mercantile phase?

The aims were to gain as much gold and silver as possible, as it was seen the country with the most recourses is the most powerful.

- Colonises coastal fringes by building ports and camps to extract resources, using slavery.

- The mother country profits from resources from the colonies, and the colonies cannot trade.

[7.2A] What is the imperial phase?

This is when colonies extended further in land due to more resources in land, and slavery was abandoned.

- British moved own people to work in colonies.

- British government set up institutions in colonies to control the population.

- Religion, competitive sport, and English language introduced to colonies.

- They invested in infrastructure like railways, education so locals could manage administrative jobs.

- Caused empire to collapse.

[7.2A] When was the British Empire active, and how was colonial India controlled?

The British Empire collapsed around 1960, with the empire reaching its peak in 1920 when it controlled 24% of land globally.

- British military personnel, civil servants emigrated to India to run the raj.

- Educated Indians occupied administrative positions (speaking English and wearing European dress.)

- A process of acculturation was undertaken as British traditions such as cricket were introduced.

- India was modern, especially through the construction of the 61,000km railway.

[7.2A] What are the impacts of British rule on India?

- Improvements in education, infrastructure.

- Cultural erosion.

- Strict class system.

- Railway systems.

- Sport.

[7.2A] What caused the colonial era to come to an end?

- Post-war bankruptcy, meaning there was no money to run, or defend, colonies (WW2).

- Generally, it was expensive to maintain an empire.

- The focus on post-war reconstructions was at home.

- Anti-colonial movements, and this was mostly due to the imperial phase which saw the education of some of the population like India. There were also movements elsewhere, like in Ireland.

- Technology advancements in military technology meant the British navy was no longer capable of defending colonies.

[7.2B] What are economic, political, military, and cultural forms of indirect control?

Political:

- Dominance in international decisions making within IGOs, where another country can influence the ideology, and policies.

Economic:

- The use of trade deals and trade blocs to create economic alliances which creates interdependence between like minded countries.

Military:

- A superpower can influence another country by stationing its troops on the border.

- The threat of large, powerful armed forces.

- Selective arms trading that provides weapons to key allies but not enemies.

Cultural:

- The use of global media (TV, film, music), arts, culture and global TNC brands to spread the ideology and values of the country through consumer culture (western).

[7.2B] What is the Cold War?

A period of tension between ideologically rival superpowers the capitalist USA and communist USSR that lasted from 1945 to 1990. It was also the period when nuclear weapons, and systems to deliver them were perfected, adding to the tension.

[7.2B] How was there indirect control within the Cold War?

Through proxy wars, which is a war instigated by a major power that does not itself become involved, but they support one of the sides, e.g USSR and US.

- Many countries picked a side, either the USA or USSR e.g Nato or USSR (Warsaw Pact). Several flashpoints, e.g Berlin Wall and the Vietnam War.

- Also used foreign aid as a way to 'buy' support from developing and emerging nations.

Example: Vietnam War, and Berlin Wall.

[7.2B] What is neocolonialism?

This is when nations use their control of aid to keep developing countries indebted to them, and control the trade. It is an indirect form of control.

[7.2B] How was it thought that western nations controlled their ex-colonies in the developing world?

Neo-colonalism:

Debt aid relationship:

- This causes a debt-creditor relationship.

Poor terms of trade:

- Developing countries export low value items, but have to import expensive manufactured goods from developed countries.

TNC investment:

- Can create jobs and wealth, but be dependent on the receiving country following certain policies.

Strategic alliances:

- These are military alliances between a developing nation and superpower. A developing nation is dependent on military aid and equipment from the superpower.

Aid relationship:

- Development aid comes with strings attached, forcing the recipient to agree to policies.

[7.2B] What is hegomony?

It describes the dominance of a superpower over other countries, through various ways.

[7.2B] Why is China a hegomony to the USA?

- Huge human resources.

- USA population growth moderate.

- Its economy has grown massively since 1990, and shows a few signs of slowing down. (2019 14.1 trillion USD.)

- It has military ambitions to build a blue water navy.

[7.2C] What is a uni-polar world's stability/risk like?

It should appear stable, however, a hyper power is unlikely to be able to maintain control everywhere, all the time which could lead to frequent challenges to its hegemonic position.

[7.2C] What is a bi-polar world's stability/risk like?

Bi-polar situations such as the Cold War had high risk, with there being several different flashpoints. It depends on the communication between the blocs and each country having the ability to control the countries within the bloc. They can be stable, though.

[7.2C] What is a multi-polar's stability/risk like?

Between WW1 and 2 there was a multi-polar world. It could be argued this allowed the rise of Nazi Germany and Imperial Japan with no country prepared to stop them. Unstable and high risk.

- Easy to misjudge intentions and can increase risk of conflict.

[7.3A] How are emerging powers influential?

BRIC and G20 nations may become more powerful in the future. Europe's and the USA's share of world GDP has declined since 1945.

[7.3A] How are emerging economies economically influential?

Economically:

- The G20 countries collectively account for 85% of global trade.

- Large populations also means big markets for global commodities.

[7.3A] How are emerging economies politically influential?

Politically:

- Their economic importance enables them to form alliances and act as an influence group, and join global decision-making organisations.

[7.3A] How are emerging economies environmentally influential?

Environmentally:

- Climate change is a global problem, and the emerging powers have a crucial role to play in tackling it both individually and as a part of governance.

- Participation required in UN climate change conferences.

- BRIC countries account for 42% of global carbon dioxide emissions.

[7.3A] What is it likely that the emerging powers in the near future will do?

- Demand more say in global organisations like the UN, India having a seat on security council.

- Play a greater role in international peacekeeping.

[7.3B] What are the strengths and weaknesses of China?

China:

Strengths:

- Economic: 2nd largest GDP.

- Economic: Powerful manufacturing economy, with a very innovative population.

- Military: Military technology is growing.

Weaknesses:

- Demographic: Ageing population.

- Environmental: Air and water pollution problems.

[7.3B] What are the strengths and weaknesses of India?

India:

Strengths:

- Demographic: Youthful population.

- Economic: Highly skilled workers, particularly a global leader in IT.

Weaknesses:

- Economic and political: Widespread poverty of around 70% for the rural population.

- Economic: Weak infrastructure (roads, rail)

- Environmental and demographic: Lack of water resources due to poor infrastructure, industry, and population growth.

[7.3B] What are the notable trends with emerging powers?

- Countries with ageing, or even declining populations face major problems in the future for paying for healthcare.

- Shortages of physical resources could derail ambitions of countries, as well as environmental concerns.

- Countries with modern infrastructure, balanced economic sectors will do better than ones yet to develop these.

[7.3C] What is the dependency theory?

Developing nations depend on developed nations, which in turn, prevents economic progress.

- Developing nations rely on developed country TNCs.

- However, it does not explain how some developing countries have grown rapidly while others not.

[7.3C] What is the World Systems Theory?

A weakness to the dependency theory is that its static and suggests the countries are stuck in a permanently underdeveloped state.

Categories nations into three categories:

- Core regions.

- Semi-periphery - Emerging powers.

- Periphery - the rest of the developing world.

Gave flexibly to recognise countries that countries may change group over time.

[7.3C] What is the modernisation theory?

The theory states that countries develop in six stages. It argues that countries develop slowly until all of the preconditions are met.

- Exports of raw materials generate income.

- Development of key infrastructure, e.g roads, ports.

- Technology becomes more widespread.

- Education, leading to increased social mobility.

- Banking and financial systems, take part in trade.

- Government and legal systems to protect investors, property owners.

Once these were in place, industrialisation and the growth of industry would begin, along with increasing urbanisation. It assumes all countries follow the same path.