Case studies

• Empire


  A large collection of states or nations ruled by a single, ultimate authority, historically most often an emperor or empress
• Superpower


  A country that is immensely prominent and powerful (used especially with reference to the US and the former Soviet Union when these were perceived as the two most powerful nations in the world)
• Power


  The capacity to perform an action or behave in a specific way, notably as a trait or faculty
• Military power


  The armed forces as well as the ability of a group like a fire team, squad, etc. A military term for a large power
• Nation


  A sizable population living in a given nation or region and connected by shared ancestry, history, culture, or language
• Organisation


  A group of people who are organised for a certain goal, such as a corporation, society, association, etc.
• International


  Existent, taking place, or being conducted between two or more nations
• Colonialism


  The process of gaining full or partial governmental control over another nation, populating it with settlers, and then economically exploiting it
• Mediation


  Resolution of a disagreement through intervention; arbitration
• Militarism


  The conviction or desire that a nation should keep a potent military and be ready to use it forcefully to protect or advance its interests at all costs
• Negotiation


  Conversation aiming at coming to a consensus
• Imperialism


  A strategy for expanding a nation's power and influence by military force or diplomacy
• Nationalism


  Affiliation with one's own country and advocacy for its interests, often at the expense or exclusion of those of other countries
• Judicial system


  The judiciary, sometimes referred to as the judicial system, judicature, judicial branch, judicative branch, court, or judiciary system, is a system of courts that decides legal issues and applies, defends, and interprets the law in legal proceedings
• Arbitration


  The process of resolving a disagreement through arbitration
• Alliances


  A partnership or association created for the advantage of both parties, particularly between nations or organisations
• Veto power


  The president's authority to reject a bill or joint resolution and halt its passage into law
• The Mongol empire lasted from 1206 until 1368
• Mongol Empire


  1. Mongolia's nomadic farmers relied on the land to sustain them

  2. Genghis Khan united Mongolia's tribes and supported China's peasant economy

  3. He reformed his people's laws and ushered in a military-feudal form of government

  4. He embraced trade and religious freedom, and adopted advanced technology of the time
• The British empire lasted from 1815–1914
• British Empire


  1. Great Britain made its first tentative efforts to establish overseas settlements in the 16th century

  2. Maritime expansion, driven by commercial ambitions and by competition with France, accelerated in the 17th century

  3. The East India Company began establishing trading posts in India in 1600
• Different perspectives on the British Empire

  • Positive - Colonisation was good
  • Negative - They stole all the goods
• Kenya achieved independence in 1963
• Kenyan independence movement


  1. Driven by growing disillusionment among Kenya's African population with colonial rule

  2. Led by nationalist organisations and political parties like KANU

  3. Characterised by nonviolent protests, civil disobedience, and advocacy for rights and justice

  4. British government responded with repression, including declaring a state of emergency
• Perspectives on the Kenyan independence movement


  • Nationalist - Advocated for independence
  • Colonial - Saw it as a threat and responded with repression
  • Liberal - Saw it as an opportunity for greater rights
  • Communist - Saw it as part of a global socialist struggle
• The USA became a superpower in 1898
• USA becoming a superpower

  1. The 1898 Treaty of Paris gave the US colonial responsibilities

  2. The US had the attributes of a great power - population, geography, economy, military

  3. Foreign policy had to change to meet these new circumstances
• Perspectives on the USA as a superpower

  • Positive force - Beacon of democracy and freedom
  • Negative force - Militaristic and imperialistic
  • Declining superpower - Power and influence on the decline
  • Necessary evil - Power can be used for good and bad
• The League of Nations existed from 1920–1946 and was replaced by the United Nations
• League of Nations


  1. Established to promote international cooperation and achieve peace and security

  2. Weakened by the failure of the US to join

  3. Discredited by its inability to prevent conflicts like WWII
• Perspectives on the League of Nations

  • Successful organisation - Helped maintain peace
  • Failure - Lacked power to enforce decisions
  • Limited success - Made some positive contributions but had flaws
  • Legacy - Provided basis for the UN
• The United Nations was founded in 1945
• United Nations


  • Aims to promote peace, security, cooperation, human rights, development, and environmental protection
  • Has 193 member states and key organs like the General Assembly, Security Council, and International Court of Justice
• Perspectives on the United Nations

  • Optimistic - Necessary and positive force for global cooperation
  • Pessimistic - Ineffective and ineffectual
  • Realistic - Has strengths and weaknesses
  • Critical - Biased and undemocratic
• Conflict


  A disagreement or difference of interests between two or more parties, which can range from minor disputes to full-scale wars
• Peace


  A state of calm and absence of violence, conflict, or hostility
• Violence


  Physical or psychological harm inflicted on individuals or groups
• War


  A large-scale, organized conflict between states or nations, characterized by the use of military force
• Terrorism


  The use of violence and intimidation by non-state actors, usually for political or ideological reasons
• Tension


  A state of unease or tension between two or more parties, often as a result of a perceived threat or disagreement