unipolar world e.g. BritishEmpire - one superpower dominating the world
bipolar world e.g. Cold War - two superpowers that have opposing ideologies
multipolar world e.g. currentworld - when multiple superpowers and emerging powers influencing other countries
unipolar world brings geopolitical stability if dominant power uses sufficienthard and soft power
unipolar world brings risk as other powers are likely to challenge the dominant power
a bipolar world brings geopolitical stability if both powers are able to share control
a bipolar world brings risk if the two powers do not trust each other - leading to loss of diplomacy
a multipolar world brings geopolitical stability if all countries are around the same size
a multipolar world brings risk if two or more powers form an alliance
two other ways power can be maintained?
direct colonial control (colonisation)
indirect control (neocolonialism)
direct colonial control is taking another country or territory usually by force and making it a colony e.g. British Empire covered 25% of the world in 1922.
culture was changed as acculturation took place with the spread of English language and Christianity
economy was changed as colonisers benefitted from enslaving and selling goods, some locals who worked within colonial system also benefitted. more homes built in India and Australia and more schools
indirect control began after the second world war, as many countries gained independence as former colonisers could not afford to maintain power. neocolonialism occurred between former colonisers and independent countries
neocolonialism is use of economic, military and cultural power to gain and maintain indirect control over developing powers
military - alliances between countries who were former colony as they rely on weapons and equipment from another country
economic - former colony may be in debt to another country so rely on aid to provide its citizens with services. giving control of finances to another country
cultural - colonial place and road names, religions and languages used for long time after independence