superpowers

• Superpower


  A nation which has the ability to project its influence around the world. This global influence means they have a big say in decision making and they are often a global force for change.
• Four pillars of Superpower status

  • Economic
  • Military
  • Political & Ideology
  • Cultural
• Economic


  A large economy enables a nation to control trade. They can also use their money to invest in a strong military force and exploit natural resources. They may also own the debt of other nations thereby having power over them.
• Military


  A nation can use their military to threaten or invade other countries (hard power) or to achieve geo-political goals (such as UN Peacekeeping Missions).
• Political & Ideology


  The ability to influence other countries in a way which suits their desires or match their political systems. Ideology is closely linked with politics, as many states may force their ideology through policies.
• Cultural


  Projecting a nation's cultural values on others can change the way other populations think and align their ideology with the superpower's culture. Culture is often spread via social media, films, music, food, art etc. The westernisation of culture is an important aspect of power.
• Factors a nation can use to exercise superpower status


  • Physical resources (e.g. oil and gas)
  • Human resources (e.g. large population)
• Many would consider the current global superpower as the USA, closely followed by the EU. However, this hasn't always been the case.
• Hard power


  Using military and direct political intervention to change or influence the behaviour of other countries. (e.g. military action, threat of trade restrictions, use of economic sanctions, owning the debt of other countries)
• Soft power


  Attracting national governments and individuals to their country through attractive culture & lifestyle, sought-after political advice, foreign policies that encourage migration, trade alliances, foreign direct investment.
• Heartland


  A region of Eurasia stretching from Russia to China and from the Arctic to the Himalayas, which Mackinder argued was a geo-strategic location because whoever controlled it would control large amounts of physical and human resources.
• After WWI, attempts were made to limit Germany's expansion into the Heartland. After WWII, NATO allies tried to contain the Soviets from expanding into south and west Europe.
• As technology has advanced and made transportation easier, the shrinking world has reduced the locational importance of the Heartland. Resources can easily be transported around the world, and advances in military technology means armies can have more global influence without needing to colonise other nations.
• Core


  Economic powerhouses that control most aspects of global trade such as trade agreements and trading currency.
• Periphery


  Regions that often provide labour and materials for the core nations.
• The World Systems Theory tries to explain inequality in wealth and development across the world.
• In the past, relationships between the core and periphery were purely exploitative (colonialism) and the periphery was forced to provide their natural resources through means of hard power such as military force or occupation.
• In more recent times, the relationship between the core and periphery centres around trade agreements (soft power) which often benefit the core regions more than they benefit the periphery.
• Stages of growth in Rostow's Modernisation Theory

  • Traditional Society
  • Pre-conditions for Take Off
  • Take Off
  • Drive to Maturity
  • High Mass Consumption

  
• Rostow's Modernisation Theory is based largely on American and European development (mass consumption and capitalism to create profit) and therefore ignores the stages of growth other nations who do not fit this mould may go through.
• Rostow's model only considers the advancement of development, so doesn't describe a nation that is declining.
• Rostow's model only considers a country in isolation from the world, where the development is the sole responsibility of the country itself. However, this is not true; in an increasingly connected globalised world, the development of a country may be limited by international politics or competition for trade by other states.
• Types of Polarity


  • Unipolar world
  • Bi-polar world
  • Multi-polar world
• During the colonial era, the world was considered uni-polar with the British Empire ruling a quarter of the world's land and a third of the world's population.
• Successes of Colonial Power

  • Railway lines were built
  • The English language spread
  • Education for all colonial states was improved
• Negative impacts of Colonial Power

  • The majority of crops grown in colonial states were bought by the British at very low prices
  • Many colonial states did not have their own governments
  • Discriminating policies were established to segregate the British migrants from natives
• In the 20th Century, many empires collapsed due to bankruptcy, focus on rebuilding home countries, and the rise of anti-colonial movements.
• Neo-colonialism


  The continued dependence of former colonies on other countries after their independence, where more powerful developed countries use their relationship with less developed countries for their own benefit.
• Frank's Dependency Model explains the cycle of neo-colonialism, where the neo-colony becomes dependent on the neo-colonial power controlling it.
• The IMF and World Bank have both been accused of being 'neo-colonial' as they provide loans to developing nations with high rates of repayment.
• During the colonial era, Empires exploited their colonies for a variety of commodities: sugar, cotton, tea
• The development of Lancashire was based from the cheap import of cotton from plantations in America; cotton would be manufactured in large mills, through a largely mechanised process (faster rate of production and cheaper to run) so Lancashire companies made large profits
• Mozambique has given fishing rights to China, in return for infrastructure (hospitals, airports, roads). China actually has 1 million of its people living in Africa and has invested over $40 billion into African nations
• Local fishermen are now out-competed, losing their source of income and instead having to work for Chinese fishing boats for less money
• The IMF and World Bank have both been accused of being 'neo-colonial'. They provide loans to developing nations, but with high rates of repayment and conditions if the developing nation is unable to repay. Therefore, developing nations become 'trapped' in a cycle of debt and have to open their economies to private companies (governments lose assets and income, making them even less likely to repay their debts)
• Cold War


  A time of geopolitical tension between the USA and USSR from 1945 to 1990
• USA


  • Democratic society
  • Capitalist economy
• USSR


  • Communist rule
  • Centrally-owned economy
• The USSR installed communist governments in Eastern Europe (e.g. in Poland and Hungary). These countries were of strategic importance to the USSR as they provided a 'shield' in case the West attacked Russia
• The border between Eastern and Western Europe became known as The Iron Curtain and was heavily defended by opposing parties