Maintaining power

Question 1

technology

Answer 1

Britain had the latest military technology such as the steamship and modern weaponry. The establishment of a network of underwater cables enabled messages to be sent across the globe.

Question 2

military

Answer 2

• the most important factor. Rebellions were frequent and were put down ruthlessly. Local troops were allowed to join the British Army and were often used to put down rebellions.

Question 3

culture

Answer 3

British inventions such as the railways were introduced around the world, along with legal systems, sport and the English language. These benefitted some local inhabitants.

Question 4

reason for british empire decline

Answer 4

Increasing competition from France, Germany and the US
- Increasing military and economic competition from within Europe. Britain needed to
concentrate military strength at home to face local threats
- The economic cost of financing two world wars
- Increasingly violent rebellions e.g.: the killing of thousands of Punjabis in Amritsar in
1919
- A loss of support of people at home, particularly the young post – 1945 who
questioned the morality of Empire
- Some countries e.g.: Egypt in 1958 simply declared independence.

Question 5

MODERN naval power

Answer 5

• Government defence spending in UK declined from 5% of GDP in 1982 to 3% today.
  The navy consists of around 40 ships – there were 900 at the end of WW2
• The UK has launched 2 new aircraft carriers at a cost of around $5 billion each
• Is it better to have a small number of very hi-tech ships or a larger number of
  cheaper vessels?

Question 6

MODERN nuclear weapons

Answer 6

• There are various debating points regarding nuclear weapons
• They may act as a deterrent and insurance in any future conflict
• They can’t be disinvented so surely it is better to be a nuclear armed nation
• But current nuclear armed nations are against other nations possessing them; a
  difficult moral stance
• Is it worth having a weapon that you are unlikely ever to use?
• The UK is currently upgrading its nuclear deterrent at an estimated cost of £100
  billion for 4 submarines, each with 16 weapons, each with 8 warheads

Question 7

MODERN air power

Answer 7

-Current warfare tends to rely on rapid response air power rather than naval power,
although aircraft carriers combine the two roles
- The share of air power as part of overall defence budget is increasing
- Modern fighter jets cost over $100 million each
- The future may lie in unmanned aircraft and drones; these are already being used
extensively in Syria

Question 8

MODERN space exploration

Answer 8

• Currently limited to USA, Russia, EU, China, Canada, Japan and India
• Enormous budgets - $17.5 billion for US
• Funding generally used for science and exploration and includes joint funding for
  international space station
• Budgets and interest massively increasing in China and India
• The moral case – India has space budget of $1 billion a year yet 250 million live in
  absolute poverty