patterns of power

    Cards (8)

    • 3 main patterns of power are?
      • unipolar world e.g. British Empire - one superpower dominating the world
      • bipolar world e.g. Cold War - two superpowers that have opposing ideologies
      • multipolar world e.g. current world - when multiple superpowers and emerging powers influencing other countries
    • unipolar world brings geopolitical stability if dominant power uses sufficient hard 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
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