Definitions

• Bipolarity

  Two superpowers exist, each with opposing ideologies
• Capitalism

  The belief that individuals may gain wealth and status through business ventures, the hours they work and their skills
• The Cold War

  Tensions between the USA and USSR from 1950 to the 1990s due to their conflicting ideologies and competition to become a unipolar superpower
• Colonialism

  The act of gaining control, building an empire and exerting influence over other countries
• Communism

  The belief that everyone in a population should be equal financially, the property they own and politically
• Democracy

  A political system where every member of the population has an equal vote
• Dictatorship

  One individual controls a country, rather than an elected government
• Economic alliances

  Trade blocs that promote trade between members, offer each other financial assistance and loans and allow the migration of workers between states
• Emerging states

  Countries that have quickly gained influence, developed and have notable culture. Emerging States may become superpowers in the future
• Empire

  A collection of countries, ruled over or influenced by a single government
• Environmental alliances

  Groups of countries that discuss and pledge to reduce greenhouse emissions and protect the natural environment
• Frank's Dependency Model

  Describes neo-colonialism and how a country can gain control over a neo-colony through exploitation and economic dependency
• Foreign Direct Investment (FDI)

  The investment of money, infrastructure or assets by a foreign government or business
• Hard power

  Exerting a country’s influence over another through the use of economic or military intervention
• Human resources

  The available workforce and skills of the population, which can contribute to a country’s status
• Ideology

  Beliefs and values that are shared within a population
• Imperial era

  The period of 18th and 19th Century, when European states created empires, using hard power to rule over America, Africa and Asia
• Intellectual property

  The ownership of ideas and designs, such as patents and copyrights
• Military alliance

  A group of states that share weapons & intelligence, offer military assistance and discuss international affairs such as terror attacks, national security, etc
• Multi-polarity

  There are several superpowers, each with a characteristic strength, competing for global influence and status
• Physical resources

  The natural assets such as fossil fuels, minerals or crops, that can be sold for profit or political gain
• Sanctions

  Restrictions put into place against a country who breaks international law or agreements
• Soft power

  Exerting a country’s influence over another through cultural diffusion, political reform and FDI
• Spheres of contest

  Areas of competition for superpowers and emerging states, e.g. land ownership, intellectual property, state borders
• Unipolarity

  There is one superpower who dominates economically and politically
• Wallerstein's World Systems Theory

  Describes the movement of raw materials and manufactured goods between the core and periphery
• mackinder‘s heartland theory

  whoever controls the heartland (Russia, Eastern Europe and parts of Asia) controls the majority of physical and human resources, and so will be a leading superpower.

  
• Rostow’s Modernisation Theory

  The development of a country takes five stages of growth: Traditional society, pre-conditions for take off, take off, drive to maturity and mass consumption