Superpowers

Question 1

Superpower criteria

Answer 1

HYPERPOWER: is a lone superpower
EMERGING: have a large, growing economy, military + political influence
REGIONAL: big influence at continental but not global scale
CRITERIA= •size, pop, resources, economic strength, military strength

Question 2

How superpower can exert authority

Answer 2

ECON: money is needed to invest in military+develop society
POLITICAL: ability to have power within org such as UN + WTO
CULTURAL: appeal of a country’s ways of life and ideologies
RESOURCES: possession of fossil fuels, minerals + land can generate econ + geopolitical power

Question 3

How superpower can maintain power

Answer 3

HARD= military action, creating of economy, use of economic sanctions
ECON=Econ or development aid, signing favourable trade agreements to increase econ ties
SOFT=cultural attractiveness of a nation, values + ideologies of some nations being seen as attractive

Question 4

Mackinder’s heartland theory

Answer 4

He named an area of Eurasia as ‘Heartland’
•He argues that it was a key geo-strategic location in the world because it commanded a huge portion of world’s physical + Human Resources

Question 5

Unipolar
Bipolar
Multi-polar

Answer 5

UNI: one superpower has dominance
BIPOLAR: 2 superpowers with opposite ideologies compete for dominance e.g. USA + USSR
MULTI: many superpowers + emerging powers compete for dominance in different regions

Question 6

Why do some countries not have fully control over themselves

Answer 6

Strategic alliance=military alliances between developing nations + superpowers make the developing nation dependant on military aid
AID= comes with strings attached to agree to certain policies
—>TNC investment=creates jobs + wealth
•Terms of Trade= low commodity export prices contrast with high prices for imported goods

Question 7

NICs characteristics - Newly industrialised country

Answer 7

STRONG LEADERSHIP: necessary to guide the country to econ growth

LARGE POPS: big internal market + workforce

SUSTAINED + LARGE ECON GROWRH: econ will grow at high %

SHIFT FROM PRIMARY TO 2NDARY: Manufactured goods generate more wealth than primary

PART OF TRADING BLOCS: ASEAN
STRONG EDUCATION SYSTEM: allows entrepreneurs

OPENNESS TO GLOB + FREE TRADE: allowing TNCs to come in + aid development

Question 8

Dependency theory

Answer 8

• The development of the rich world was achieved by exploitation of the developing world
• The developing countries moved into production of cash crops (coffee, tea, cocoa) which meant that they were no longer subsistent and dependant of developed countries for food imports + food aid
• That the development for many countries were slowed or stopped by arrival of colonists. —> points out that many were richer before colonialism

Question 9

World systems theory

Answer 9

1- the world economy has one market and a global division of labour
2-although the world has multiple states, almost everything takes place in context of world economy
3-The world economy has a 3-tide structure
CORE=controls world trade
SEMI P=urban areas with rural poverty
P=provide primary products for both semi-p and core

Question 10

Inter-governmental orgs

Answer 10

IGOs= whose members are nation states. They uphold treaties/law and cooperate on issues like trade, human rights, econ policy
•IGO’s have helped bolster free trade + free market capitalism by promoting their values

Question 11

Examples of IGOs

Answer 11

WTO=regulate global trade since 95’. They create agreements to promote open trade and reduce protectionism.
UN SECURITY COUNCIL=maintaining intrnl peace + security.
•Apply sanction to countries which are deemed to be a security risk
•Authorise use of military force against a country + peacekeeping
NATO=to safeguard freedom, common heritage + civilisation of members by promoting stability + well-being
•undertakes crisis management
THE UN= (1945) aim to international peace + security maintenance. Does this by working to prevent conflict, protect human rights, humanitarian aid, promote sustainable development

Question 12

China emissions factfile

Answer 12

• 2014-was responsible for 29% of global carbon emissions
• 7/10 most polluted cities
• In 2007, China produced 6200m tonnes of CO2, with Britain producing 600m
• By 2020, China will have reduced dependence on coal by 64% to 58%

Question 13

Kyoto protocol

Answer 13

Sets binding emission reduction targets

•reduce GHG by 5.2% below 1990 level by 2012