characteristics

• what is a superpower?


  a country with the ability to influence behaviour on a global scale
• what are the 6 characteristics to dominate in to be a superpower?


  • economic
  • political
  • military
  • cultural
  • resources
  • demographic
• why is economic power the most important?


  it underpins the other 5 superpower characteristics
• what creates economic influence?


  a large economy

  • the potential market as a home of TNC's are the source of FDI
• when will an economy exert global influence?

  if the country is open to globalisation with high levels of international trade
• what are indicators of economic power?

  • large GDP
  • high % of international trade
  • currency used as a reserve currency
• what is political power?


  the ability to influence policies of other countries through the dominance of negotiations

  this can be:

  • bilaterally
  • through international organisations
• what is political power a consequence of?


  dominance in other characteristics:

  • large economy gives a strong importance in trade talks
  • military power that poses a viable threat to enforce control
• why is political power important?


  many international organisations do not equally weight all members

  voting power or positions may be affected by economic contribution, historical roles, population etc
• what are indicators of political power?


  • participation in many multilateral agreements
  • membership of international organisations
  • leadership roles or a dominant voting power in organisations
• what is military power?


  allows force to be used to achieve geopolitical goals

  
  

  gives political influence through threat of force
• what is military power influenced by?


  • demographic power (the number of people that can be deployed)
  • economic power (size of defence budget which determines military investment)
• what are indications of military power?

  • size of army
  • large defence spending
  • nuclear weapons
  • ICBM's
  • size of ocean fleet
  • major arms exporter
  • leading positions in international military organisations
• what is cultural power?


  the ability to influence beliefs, values, ideology and way of life in other countries
• how can cultural power be achieved?


  through dominance of media eg

  • films
  • radio
  • tv
  • internet
  • education
  • TNC's or migrants
  • imposition of a cultural viewpoint in international agreements
• what are indicators of cultural power?


  • spread of music
  • fashion
  • food
  • language
  • religion
• what is demographic power?


  a large population
• what can demographic power assist?


  economic power

  • a large market and economies of scale

  cultural power

  • diaspora's and a large number of TNC's

  military power

  • large army size
• what is resource power?


  control of access to physical resources eg energy or minerals which provide inputs to economic growth and the development of economic power
• what can resource power assist?


  economic power

  • exports of resources at high prices generate economic growth

  military power

  • control of resources are needed if the military is to have a sustained application of force (to last)
• what is a hyperpower?


  one globally dominant superpower
• example of a hyperpower


  britain between 1850-1910

  USA and USSR duing the cold war 1950-1990

  USA 1990-2010
• what is an emerging superpower?


  countries with a large role in one or more superpower characteristics with a growing global influence
• what is a regional power?


  countries with the ability to project themselves as a dominant power and their influence over other countries within a continent or region (not globally)
• what are examples of regional powers?


  UK, Germany and France in europe

  Saudi Arabia and Iran in the middle east

  South africa and Nigeria in Africa