SUPERPOWERS

• the threat of action can be used for bargaining
• military force can achieve effects
• geopolitics, earth's geography on politicals + international relations
• major influence in determining power
• most countries use military forces to protect themselves against Challengers
• one measure of a country's power is the size of its military
• Indicators of military power

  • army size
  • defence spending
  • nuclear weapons
  • presence on leading international military organisations
• military power is dependent on economic power: budget determines investment in military technology
• Russia has the most active warheads
• Superpowers


  Global countries known for their influence and power to influence world affairs
• Regional power

  Countries that have major influence on a continental but not global scale
• Power

  The ability to influence or outright control the behaviour of people
• Soft power


  Poor countries can make themselves look attractive and appealing, therefore encouraging others to follow them (e.g. music, sports, culture)
• Hard power can get results but it's expensive
• Soft power is used well


  It's effective and low cost, able to create alliances and improve international relations, may spread to other countries
• Many countries rely on just hard power for overseas influence because it's both attractive and effective
• The Olympic and Paralympic games have been used by host countries to improve their global 'brand'
• The Rio games 2016 were part of Brazil's aspiration as an emerging economy to join global power rankings
• The City of London and New York dominate international finance, setting standards and values
• The UK has the world's 5th largest economy - an attractive market and source of FDI
• Superpowers


  Entities that have a significant influence over the global economic system
• Superpowers


  • Some organisations and individuals have more power than a country
  • Often they have links to a current superpower and have economic/political influence over others
  • One way they may maintain superpower status
• World Bank and IMF


  Organisations that provide loans to developing countries to help them develop
• The World Bank and IMF have been criticised for providing funds for projects that have been unethical and damaged the environment (e.g. rainforest clearing for developments)
• The World Bank and IMF have also been criticised for giving loans to countries who are incapable of paying them back
• The USA and EU have the highest proportion of voting rights within the World Bank and IMF, so their interests are closely tied to these organisations rather than the interests of the indebted countries
• WTO


  Aims to ensure free global trade and opportunities are equal for all countries, and to reduce protectionist measures
• The WTO has been criticised for failing to stop developed nations (e.g. USA and EU) from protecting their own industries through subsidies, which has affected developing countries as their produce becomes less competitive due to being more expensive
• A government in developing nations can't afford to give subsidies
• Farmers in developing nations don't get high prices for their produce
• It becomes more expensive to buy produce in developing nations than in developed nations
• Non-profit organisation


  Works across national borders, promotes public-private co-operation, aims to improve the welfare of the world by bringing together business, political and academic leaders of society to shape global, regional and industry agendas, helps resolve disputes and promote global thinking, discusses issues of corruption and terrorism, and the economic system, social issues, encourages governments to promote global links
• TNCs gain a lot from government policies such as low tax
• Networking with world leaders is useful for TNCs
• It costs a lot to attend the non-profit organisation, which makes attendance difficult for small businesses or under-represented countries
• TNCs


  Dominant economic forces in the global economy, have become more dominant and influential than IGOs, for reasons such as economies of scale allowing them to reduce costs and out-compete smaller competitors, the spread of cheap and more efficient capitalism across the world has opened up more opportunities for them, and their ability to borrow money has allowed them to invest in new technology
• TC's


  Can make profit via the spread at their companies
• TNC's

  • Capture the majority of a market
  • Offer a product at a lower price
• TNC's influence over globalisation and ownership exchange of patents are recognised
• TNC's can help countries improve their status