Superpowers:
•What is a superpower?
Countries that have more power and influence than the rest of the world and so
therefore are the biggest decision makers. They are large countries population wise and
physically (usually have natural resources e.g. exploit oil to develop). They have a global
influence and a huge economic power. There is only one true superpower = USA.
Superpowers have; economic, cultural and military power which results in a global political influence.
In order for superpowers to maintain their power they have to ensure that they keep an international influence.
They use power mechanisms to do this because they are the most obvious and threatening. E.g. USA has huge
military power world wide as it’s military are present in every continent (except Antarctica – only has a scientific
base). NATO military alliance gives the USA allies in North America, Europe and the Middle East. NATO was
important especially during the Cold War.
•Emerging superpowers: These have a growing influence e.g. China (growing economy BUT not as much cultural
influence of the western world/ USA). The EU is also an emerging superpower.
•Emerging powers: These are further away from superpower status. E.g Russia and India have powerful energy
resources but no other influential factors.
•Regional powers: Play a political and economic role in processes in their continent e.g. Japan.
The geography of superpowers changes over time because old superpowers decline and new ones emerge. The
amount of superpowers at one time can also change:
-Uni polar world = one superpower
-Bi polar world = two opposing superpowers
-Multi polar world = three or more superpowers.
1800 - 1918
British Empire
UK is the dominant global power controlling 25% of worlds land area.
1918 - 1945
Transition Period
USA and Russia’s power is increasing. There’s the rise of the Nazi Germany
and the British Empire maintain their power. (multi polar period)
1945 - 1990
USA and USSR
Cold War period. The capitalist USA and community USSR fought for global
domination.
1990 - 2010
USA
The collapse of the USSR and Eastern Europe in the early 1990’s meant the
USA became the only true superpower.
2010 -
USA, EU, CHINA
Future will be multi polar because there will be more superpowers
including possibly India and Russia.
After world war 2 the British Empire declined. By 1970 it had completely disappeared. This was due to:
-Colonial countries wanted independence
-The UK couldn’t afford to be a global empire (war had bankrupted the country)
- The UK focused on rebuilding after the war.
Today superpowers are in a period of transition again because the uni polar USA dominated world gives way
to move to a multi polar one. The growing power is explained by:
•Energy resources = Russia has huge oil + gas reserves which gives it economic power and ‘energy weapons’.
China also has huge coal reserves.
•Alliances = The political alliance of 27 EU member states in 2009 means that it’s GDP is more than the USA.
•Economic power = China’s economic growth since 1990 means it’s the 3rd largest economy in the world. Its
now the worlds manufacturing shop ‘Made in China’.
•Nuclear weapons = Gives countries power because they have the threat of extreme destruction and
devastation. The USA, Russia, China, France and UK all have nuclear weapons. They are seen as nuclear states
(signed to Treaty of non-proliferation of Nuclear weapons – South Korea and Israel have nuclear weapons but
are not signed the treaty..
Theories:
Used to explain the existence of rich and powerful countries and the division of them to poorer countries.
There’s two main categories:
1.) Liberal economic development theories = emphasise on creating wealth and power and say that capitalism
is essential when creating wealth/money.
2.) Marxist theories = emphasise on how countries maintain their wealth and power. They say that capitalism
promotes inequality.
LIBERAL
THEORIES
MARXIST
THEORIES
THEORY:
EXPLANATION:
CRITICISMS:
The Take Off Model
(Rostow)
-Economic development is a five
stage process
-Countries develop when pre
conditions are met e.g.
transport infrastructure
-This leads to industrialisation
which creates jobs, trade and
consumers.
Many countries borrowed huge
amounts of money and invested money
into projects to meet Rostows pre
conditions. BUT they failed to develop
and so ended up in debt.
The Asian Model
(World Bank)
-Countries e.g. China/South
Korea have developed fast since
1970
-They’ve opened up to free
trade and foreign investment
-Invested in education and
skills.
Model fails to take into account the
support/aid given to some Asian
countries by the USA during the cold
war.
Dependency Theory
(Frank)
-Worlds divided into
north/south
-Developed world keeps rest of
world underdeveloped so it can
exploit cheap resources
-Aid, dept and trade patterns
reinforce the dependency.
Since 1960s NICs and RICs have broken
the north/south divide. The theory
doesn’t allow developing nations to
have their say in their own
development.
World Systems
Theory
(Wallerstein)
-Worlds divided into core, semi
periphery and periphery
-Semi periphery nations are the
same as NICS from 1970s
-Wallerstein said some
countries could develop and
gain power which shows power
and wealth were not static.
World Systems Theory is more of a
description of the world rather than an
explanation of it. It doesn’t say about
the rise of China and was written during
the cold war.
India and China = emerging powers.
They weren’t signed to any allies they have developed in their own way:
-Both avoided dependency by developing internally and not starting to trade with the world until the 1990s.
-Both invested in home grown technology e.g. nuclear weapons so didn’t rely on other countries.
-Both started free trade once they had achieved a certain level of development.
-India developed world class software and IT companies of its own e.g. Wipro BUT they have basic infrastructure
and poor transport as well as power shortages.
-China invested a large amount in infrastructure.
Superpowers have to maintain their control and they do this by using the colonial model of direct control:
•Using/threatening to use military force
•Imposing government systems
•Imposing laws and language of the colonial power
•Creating a legal social status between colonisers and the colonised.
This was used in the UK, France and the Netherlands until end of 2nd world war. The colonies provided raw
materials to the colonial power (mines, farms, railways and ports). The expectation was to quickly develop once
they had gained independence. BUT this failed to happen in Africa.
There are many critics of neo-colonialism because of many factors:
-Developing countries may suffer long term war and conflict which prevented investment and development
-Many NICs and RICs have developed because of gaining independence
-Corruption in many LICs has never truly been defeated which means that finance and air development never
really reaches the people that really need it.
•World Bank and IMF (1944) – They are global financial institution committees.
•United Nations (1945) – this promotes peace (UK, USA, France, Russia and China.
•WTO (1947) – Global organisation which promotes free trade.
Global organisations are mainly dominated by developed countries, which they’ve then created other intergovernmental organisations (IGOs) to help maintain their power.
Trade blocs e.g. NAFTA/EU promote free trade between member countries and put tariffs and quotas on
trade for countries outside of the blocs.
The EU has increased the power of European countries on a global scale. The EU actually beats the USA on
many levels, but isn’t a superpower because they still have internal arguments and differences e.g. UK didn’t
join the euro.
Americans are richer than Europeans on average and the USA has more military power.
The USA, UK, France, Germany and Italy are members of the G8 summit with Canada and Japan. Russia has
also attended the G8 meetings which reflect their oil and gas wealth. Leaders at the G8 meetings represent:
-65% of global wealth
-95% of global nuclear weapons
-75% of global military spending
G8 nations make up 80% of the global economy but only have about 15% of the worlds population.
Trade –
Trade = the exchange of goods and services, which thus generates wealth and power.
Trade between certain regions dominates imports and exports. In 2007 5 trade flows accounted for 63.7%
of all world trade goods. Africa accounted for 2% of all trade goods in 2007, where as Europe was 40%.
Superpowers + emerging powers have advantages in world trade because:
-Most TNCs come from rich, developed countries
-Most major shipping companies and airlines come from the USA and Europe
-Developed countries allow free trade between each other.
Less powerful countries export low value goods such as coffee, copper and cotton to developed nations
BUT they then import expensive manufactured goods. However these goods are loosing their value
because of the cost of goods and services which has worsened trade.
Some emerging powers have broken out of this commodity export model e.g. China. China now exports
many high value manufactured goods “made in China” and India has also moved to IT and software
exports. Russia and the Gulf states use oil and gas as their trade weapons.
-Culture –
Biggest export for superpowers is culture – people from same culture share common values + beliefs including;
-Religious beliefs, attitudes, moral and ethnic values
-Shared language, dress and art and symbols
-Norms – such as ways to behave and commonly accepted laws.
Culture is spreading around the world as a result of globalisation. America and Europe are imposing their
western influence globally = ‘Mcdonaldisation’ and ‘westernisation’.
The USA export westernised global culture like;
-Democracy = everyone has a right to vote
-Individualism = individuals should peruse own actions and dreams
-Consumerism = wealth and ability to buy goods and services leads to happiness
-Technology = especially high end technology
-Economic freedom = markets should be free and people should make money how they choose.
People argue that as western culture spreads it threatens traditional cultures and eventually they die out.
There’s fears that global culture will destroy local cultures. Not everyone accepts cultural globalisation but
globalisation could be said to promote global mixing, multiculturalism and a better cultural understanding.
The internet allows people to keep in touch and share and maintain cultural values.
-BRICS –
Brazil, Russia, India and China are all emerging powers hoping to become superpowers. The BRICS are fast at
adopting communication technology and improving life expectancy through better healthcare. They benefit
from economic growth:
-China = 200 million people moved out of poverty between 1990-2005
-India = middle class has over 300 million people
-Brazil = number of households with $5,900 – 22,000 dollars grew to 22.3 million between 2000 and 2005.
The expanding of the middle classes of the BRICS are nearly global consumers, which can improve quality of life
and happiness BUT can increase; heart disease and obesity. Chinas growing wealth could increase the pressure
for political change, freedom and democracy.
BRICS challenge the superpower status of USA and EU. Other threats to existing powers include;
-Resources: fossil fuels and rare materials begin to tighten due to increasing demand and the shrinking of
resources.
-Military dominance: Russia, China and India are nuclear powers which could shift military towards Asia.
-Space: China and India have active, well funded space programmes to explore the final frontier.
-Outstanding: India has benefitted from IT and software and China from the global shift of manufacturing. This
creates jobs in the places but threatens jobs in the west.
-Ageing: Japan and EU have an ageing population and face a pension funding crisis (UK). China also has a
problem (one child policy) and Russia. India and Brazil are more useful. The emerging powers have government
owned investment funds and most of this money comes from oil wealth.
-These funds are used to by assets world wide which are effectively owned by a foreign government, BUT this
could become a problem because foreign governments could control strategic assets in other countries.
China extended it’s global influence by investing in oil and mineral extraction in Africa. China wants guaranteed
supplies rather than political and economic influence.
New opportunities/benefits:
Continuation and problems:
-China’s FDI boosted Africa’s economic growth
-Chinese investment in mines/factories includes new roads
and other infrastructure
-China is providing development assistance in exchange for
goods (countries therefore avoid debt)
-Many employees are Chinese immigrants so local Africans
don’t benefit from jobs
-China has been accused of meddling in politics to protect its
access to oil supplies.
Its suggested that the emerging world will be a multi-polar world. This could lead to rising tensions:
-No dominant superpower and greater equality of power, arguments may be more common
-Some emerging powers have energy resources that other powers want
-No dominant power will mean that trade and political agreements will become more bilateral and less
global
-Bilateral agreements may increase tensions as some countries may feel excluded
-Emerging powers may interfere in traditional super power spheres of influence e.g Middle East.
There could be a possibility of a ‘clash of cultures’ in a multi polar world. The clash of American and Islam has
already happened and caused tensions:
•9/11 bombings
•2003 invasion of Iraq
•Taliban in Afghanistan
•War against terror with Al-Qaeda
These events have increased tensions between the Islamic and American worlds.
The USA and EU don’t always agree. Their differences are;
-Social policy – in the USA the welfare state is smaller
-Intervention – the USA is more ready than EU to take military action
-Trade – Free trade/fair trade agreements are viewed as more sceptically in the USA.
These could all lead to increased tensions. The EU and America have both invested in trade links and so in turn
have good relationships.
Russia has huge oil and gas reserves that the EU are connected to and Russia could cut supplies at any time.
PLAYERS -
ACTIONS -
FUTURES -
Superpowers and emerging
powers play an important role in
world affairs through
governmental organisations e.g.
World bank, IMF, UN and WTO.
Some are also members of the EU
and OPEC. The USA is seen as the
cause for cultural globalisation.
Their actions involve international
actions and can influence on a
global scale. E.g. peacekeeping or
war. For example; they follow a
neo-liberal market approach to
economics and development
which is NOT environmentally
sustainable.
The future isn’t clear. Business as
usual would mean the USA would
keep its uni-polar dominance.
Many politicians think that a multi
polar future is likely as BRICS are
emerging.
SUMMARY:
-Superpowers are global players based on political power from economic, military and cultural
strengths.
-Superpower status is maintained by factors including the military as well as cultural influences.
-Superpowers changes as old superpowers decline and new ones emerge.
-Liberal and structionalist economic development theories can be used to explain the development of
superpowers.
-Superpowers reinforce their roles by using trade and international decision making, developing a
network of military bases and the global spread of culture.
-FUTURE = MULTI POLAR WORLD. Emerging powers are getting bigger status which will lead to more
complex situations e.gg. China and the USA could lead to increased tensions.
Superpower = A superpower is a state with a leading position in the international system and the ability to
influence events and project power on a worldwide scale to protect their interest.
4 pillars of power:
Military power  large number of troops/nuclear weapons/involvements in conflicts
Cultural power  religion/travel/global brands
Geographic power  TNCs/role of aid
Economic power  Imports and exports/trade.aid/TNCs/trade blocs
(These all result in a country having a global political influence)
The USA as a superpower =
•Military:
Although the USA has a lot of nuclear power so does other countries e.g. Israel and Iran.
China is also powerful with 2million full time soldiers, where as the USA has 1.5million.
Overall budget in a year for military power in the USA is about $450billion.
America will achieve full spectrum dominance because they have so much access to technology etc.
China is increasing its expenditure each year and so the USA has done as well.
The EU has a budget of $300billion a year for military power and so is the EU also a superpower?
•Economic:
Russia declined as a superpower.
The rise of China because it has embraced its borders to capitalism and market boaders.
Chinas GDP=$2.5trillion, USA’s=$15trillion, which is increasing by 10% each year (China).
The American dollar has become the worlds trade currency since WW2, but this dominance has been under
threat from the Euro.
USA’s economic power is decreasing and Chinas is increasing.
•Culture:
The spread of American brands e.g. coke and Mcdonald’s means that the USA ideals are subtly being spread.
Culture is often referred to as soft power.
Subway in 86 countries, Starbucks in 42 countries and Marriot hotels in 63 countries.
Hollywood movies always make Americans to appear good and foreign countries are bad.
English language is the most common way of communication language.
There’s a huge worldwide population to influence.
•Geographic:
Spheres of influence, aid, soft power.
The use of power in international organisations.
Uses it’s relationship with different countries to ‘grease its wheels’.
Hard
power
Soft
power
Military presence/force:
Air and trade:
Culture and ideology:
-Large air/land forces
-Nuclear weapons
-military bases in foreign countries
-military alliances (NATO)
-use of threat and force
-Trade partners by reducing
import tariffs
-Trade blocs and alliances
-Economic and technical
assistance
-Using aid to influence allies
-Using economic sanctions against
countries
-Use of media to promote image
and message
-Exporting culture by film, TV and
global brands.