Contrasting Characteristics

Question 1

define superpower

Answer 1

A superpower is a country with the ability to project its dominating power and influence anywhere in the world. E.g. USA

Question 2

define Emerging superpowers

Answer 2

countries with rising influence that have steadily increased their presence in global affairs.

Brics

Question 3

define Regional powers

Answer 3

can project dominating power and influence over other countries within the continent or region. E.g.South Africa

Question 4

what are the 7 superpower characteristics used to define superpowers

Answer 4

Economic power
Political factors
Military strength
Cultural influence
Demographic
Natural Resources - resource power
physical size and geographic location

Question 5

What is economic power and how can it be measured?

Answer 5

It is a prerequisite to superpower status. A powerful economy and wealth allows for money to be spent on developing a military, exploit natural resources, and develop human ones through education.

It can be measured using GNI, number of TNC’s, and FDI.

Question 6

How can economic power define a superpower?

Answer 6

• a super power has a large GDP - The USA has the world’s largest total GDP - $18.5 trillion
• A large GDP creates influence as a potential market and as the home of TNCs which create FDI.

-w high economic power superpowers can control investment -companies investing there more likely to make bigger profits

• they have powerful and stable currencies - pound dollar
• Underpins the other 5 characteristics
• can determine global economic policies by joining pol. and ec. organisations such as G20 or trading blocs like the EU
  their strength can determine

Question 7

What is political power and how can it be measured?

Answer 7

This is the ability to influence others through diplomacy.

It can be measured by IGO influence, trade bloc membership, political stability, or geographical placement (Iran can block off straight of Hormuz).

Question 8

How can political power define a superpower?

Answer 8

• The ability to influence the policies of other countries through the dominance of negotiations. (Both bilaterally and through international organisations - OECD.)
• Many international organisations do not equally weight members. Voting power may be determined by economic contribution, historical role in founding of organisation (UN), population etc…
• Often due to dominance in other characteristics. E.g. large economy gives it power in trade talks, military power can make countries a threat - giving them political power

Question 9

OECD

Answer 9

other international organisations have now superseded the OECD in influence:
* Until recently, the most influential group was the G8 - a group whose economies were amongst the world’s largest.
* But as the global shift in economic power has moved towards Asia there has been a shift towards the G20 - now includes the G8 members plus
12 others. It includes all of the BRICs and the EU (as a single entity).

The G20 has become an increasingly significant decision-making forum, and represents half of the world’s population. The role of these international organisations has become more significant due to global economic problems. For example, in 2008
the G20 collectively organised a recovery plan to tackle the global banking crisis.

Question 10

What is military power and how can it be measured?

Answer 10

It can be used as a bargaining chip to achieve political goals. It can be measured using the size of one’s nuclear arsenal, number of active troops and military tech (e.g. aircraft carriers), military spending, and involvement overseas.

Question 11

How can military strength define a superpower?

Answer 11

• Military power with a global reach means they can be used to achieve geopolitical goals
• Global influence through blue water (ocean going) navy and drone, missile and satellite technology
• Indicators of power: army size, defence spending, nuclear weapons, inter-continental ballistic missiles (ICBMs), size of blue water navy, being a major arms exporter, presence on/leading international military organisations.
• Dependent on demographic power: the number of military personnel that can be deployed
• Dependent on economic power: budget determines investment in military technology, which increases power

Question 12

What is cultural power and how can it be measured?

Answer 12

It refers to how appealing and attractive a country’s way of life is to others (values and ideology).

It can be exerted through media, food, fashion, film etc, and measured by global media presence, language, and the extent of shared ideologies and political systems.

Question 13

how can cultural influence define superpower

Answer 13

Achieved through: the dominance of media (films, radio, television, internet, education)TNCs or migrants introducing cultural products (food, clothing, music, religion)imposition of viewpoint in international agreements

• Indicators: global spread of music, fashion, food, language, religion

The USA has the highest percentage of the world’s 20 largest TNCs - 27%.

Question 14

How can demography define a superpower

Answer 14

population size can be a key to economic success - providing sufficient labour force to generate ec. growth and a market

China and India use their large pop for manufacturing

However, large population does not always influence power - Singapore has a smaller pop but are a major influence in se asia - attract investment

Question 15

how can physical size and geography define a superpower

Answer 15

• determines the area over which a country has influence over and larger countries usually have greater resources
• eg. Russia is largest country and controls vast resources such as arctic due to their EEZ’S

Question 16

What is resource power and how can it be measured?

Answer 16

It refers to both natural resources and large population sizes, both of which can help one become more influential. It can be measured by length of coastline, population size, and size of energy reserves.

Question 17

How can resource power define a superpower

Answer 17

• Control of access to physical resources: energy, minerals ca provide dominance as they can be exported at a high price -> economic power e.g. OPEC and oil thus Provides inputs for economic growth
• Essential for military power

however possession does not guarantee development eg. many of Nigeria’s oilfields are controlled by tncs shell but still possession can provide leverage - opec countries setting global oil prices.