patterns of power

• unipolar world(british empire) 


  one superpower dominates the world

  -unstable bc some countries likely to challenge it

  +stable if dominant power has sufficient hard and soft power
• bipolar world(cold war era)


  2 superpowers with different ideologies contest eachothers influence and power

  +if both powers content to share control

  -if 2 powers dont trust eachother, peaceful stability lost
• multi-polar world 


  multiple superpowers and emerging powers are influencing other countries within their region

  • stability may only occur with all powers within the system are of the same size
• direct colonial control 


  when one country takes control of another country or territory by force

  -colonising country settling the colony with own people and cultural ideas
• british empire

  • created unipolar geopolitical system through direct colonial control
  • in 1922 A.D british empire covered 25% of world `
• how did british empire do it?

  • aided by its strong navy and established trade routes with its colonies
  • maintained via military control and alliances with local rulers
  • installed british seats of power and governance in the country to govern the people according to british values
  • acculturation took place-spread of english language and christianity
  • enslaved people and goods from colonies eg sugar,tobacco were traded through large companies whose activities defended by british military
• british empire-softer power

  • british set up permanent homes in colonies eg india,australia and kenya
  • also public facillities and transport connections
  • after 1919 the world became more multi-polar-ww1 exposed weaknesses in british power and strengths in emerging powers eg america
• neocolonialism- form of indirect control

  • post-colonial era after ww2, colonies became independant
  • european powers lacked finance after ww2 to maintain power in colonies while rebuilding their own countries
  • colonies officially independant and formed new relationships with former colonial powers and new powers- these relationships contained neocolonial aspects
• forms of neocolonialism

  • political and military- military alliances, rely on weapons and equipment from other countries
  • economic-former colony may be in debt to another country or rely on aid to provide basic services- may be tied aid=gives control of countrys finance to another country
  • cultural-colonial place and road names,religions and language often used long after independance
• neocolonialsm 


  use of economic,political and cultural power to gain and maintain indirect control over developing powers
• some patterns of power more important over time

  • bipolar power era began with capatilist USA and communist USSR fighting for hegemony(Cold War) following USA rapid economic expansion post ww2
  • USA used indirect economic control during cold war-the marshall plan, US funded countries trying to rebuild infrastructure following WW2
  • NATO(alliances for USA eg uk) and Warsaw Pact(alliances for russia eg east Germany)- alliances caused proxy wars eg vietname war or korean war
  • collapse of USSR in 1991 allowed USA to become dominant super power.