what is a superpower?
A superpower is a country with the ability to project its dominating power and influence anywhere in the world, e.g. the USA, USSR and British empire in the late 1940s
what is an emerging power?
Countries with a large role in one or more superpower characteristics and with a growing influence, they are experiencing a transition in terms of their economic structure. e.g. china, Brazil, India
what is a regional power?
they can project dominating power and influence over other countries within the continent or region. they influence other countries at a continental scale
e.g. South Africa in Africa or Saudi Arabia in the Middle East
what are the 6 superpower characteristics categorised under?
explain the economic characteristics of a superpower
explain the political power characteristic of superpowers
explain the military power characteristic of superpowers
explain the cultural power characteristics of superpowers
cultural power includes how appealing a nation’s way of life, values and ideology are to others
this is achieved by:
- the dominance of media, they decide what music and films are played
- TNCs or migrant introducing cultural products
- imposition of viewpoint in international agreements
indicators include: global spread of music, fashion, food, language, religion
- WESTERNISATION
- the USA have the highest percentage of the world’s largest TNCs- 27%
- three record companies dominate UK music production
explain the demographic power characteristics of superpowers
explain the power of resources as a characteristic of a superpower
what is a hyperpower?
an unchallenged superpower that is dominant in all aspects of powers, examples include the USA from 1990 to 2010 and Britain from 1850 to 1910
what is hard power?
it represents a coercive approach to international relations and employs the use of military or economic power to achieve certain outcomes
- introduced by Joseph Nye
what is soft power?
a persuasive approach for countries to act in a particular way, on the basis that the persuader is respected and appealing. it includes political persuasion (diplomacy) and cultural influence.
- introduced by Joseph Nye
what are the benefits and drawbacks of soft power?
benefits:
drawbacks:
give an example of soft power
UK
what are the benefits and drawbacks to hard power?
benefits:
drawbacks:
what are examples of hard power
which characteristic of superpowers is arguably the most important for maintaining power?
Strong economic factors
what is smart power?
an approach that underscores the necessity of a strong military, but also invests heavily in alliances, partnerships, and institution of all levels to expand one’s influence and establish legitimacy of one’s action
- it is a combination of both hard and soft power
explain mackinder’s geo-strategic location theory
in 1904 Halford mackinder identified a region that he called the heartland which stretched from Eastern Europe into russia. he believed that the heartland was the key geo-strategic location in the world because control of it commanded a huge proportion of the world’s physical and Human Resources
explain how Mackinder believed the heartland could shift geographically
explain the changing centre of gravity of power
what are the advantages and disadvantages of amckinfders theory?
Advantages:
Disadvantages:
what is geopolitical stability?
how well different governments get on with each other
- the relationship between Putin and trump shows one of instability