SUPERPOWERS- EXAM STYLE
QUESTIONS VERIFIED ANSWERS
Assess the extent to which geopolitical power stems from a range of countries
human and physical characteristics (12) Intro + 4 points - ANSWER-Intro-
Geopolitical power describes the amount of power a country has in terms of their
physical geography and how this then links to their political power on the global
stage. This can be seen to link to both human and physical characteristics of a
region.
- it could still be argued that physical characteristics remain key. By having both a
physical large landmass a country therefore has a larger territory, often controlling
more physical resources as well as influence over neighbours therefore further
exerting control and gaining allies/protection over borders, example Russia, largest
landmass, Geo-strategic power, owns own natural resources as well as bordering
areas such as Arctic again meaning has large influence resources found within there
too, acts as key tool of economic growth as well as for influencing other nations that
rely upon these resources enabling Russia exert large amount hard power and so
deterrent, showing the importance physical land/resources could be said to have,
However Russia cannot be said to be a major power within the global system,
therefore indicating how other factors also play role, with this then also being similar
to other natural resource rich nations such as within the middle east that due to
human factors such as the fact much of the region is in conlfict/poor political regime
power is not held, is then also no longer as important for countries harness own
natural resources with many countries accessing them elsewhere (china + Africa) as
well as fact the majority are owned by overseas TNCs, therefore further indicating
other human factors play role
-This is therefore largely linked to a countries economic growth/influence, enabling
countries such as China to access resources from others through investment,
economic power then further enables countries to exert power number other w
Assess to what extent the superpowers rising demand for physical resources has led
to both environmental and political challenges (12) 4 points - ANSWER-Intro- with an
increasing amount of countries gaining economic growth and so becoming
increasingly powerful, this has included increasing populations with an increasing
demand for physical resources including things such as mineral resources for energy
production and manufacturing, as well as agricultural needs. This therefore can be
seen to be leading to a number of challenges, both environmental and politically
-The main political challenges can be seen to be in the demand for resources and
territories to gain minerals and so meet energy demand. Many countries, such as
China, rely heavily on energy resources to fuel their manufacturing industry and so
ensure economic growth. This has led to a variety of political challenges around
gaining resources such as oil and gas, an example being in the South China Sea,
where china is trying to expand its territory (EEZ) in order to gain natural resources
in that area. This is then further seen in the Artic, an area with huge reserves of
natural resources and with no one dominant state having control over it. Countries
such as China, Russia and Canada have now place military bases surrounding it in
order to gain this territory, which although has not yet lead to military action, this may
well occur in the future.
, -Further political tensions can be seen with other resources such as gas and oil, as
the majority of countries not being self-sufficient in energy so having to rely on others
for this imported oil. An example can be seen in the reliance of resources from
countries such as Russia, with the disruption in things such as energy pathways as
seen in ukraine where tensions are arising out of the gas pipeline, leading to
tensions with other countries such as the UK. Also seen in Syria and the gas
pipeline, with both the US and Russia attempting to gain control of the area, le
Explain how the worlds systems theory can be used to explain changing patterns of
power (6) 2 points - ANSWER--world systems theory looks at the world as a global
system, made up of periphery countries that provide raw materials and cheap labour
to the core countries, that exploit periphery for profits, then also the semi periphery in
between
-these semi periphery show why emerging countries are becoming more powerful,
e.g China provides goods to boost economy but also exploits countries like Africa
Describe the key points of the role of TNCs as global players 4 points- How they
operate, Global trade, Technology, Cultural influence - ANSWER--Most are public
owned (Apple), operate in many countries with factories in LEDCs etc, dominant in
global economy however 75% worlds largest companies based in 10 countries, can
operate differently e.g. China were state owned by governments who control who's in
charge + employ large proportion of population, still operate commercially but all
profits go to state
-Operate global production chains, uses outsourcing + offshoring, containerisation
helped, increase in intra-trade between TNCs + within the TNCs (flows of parts of
goods between countries), led global shift with economic power now moving to
emerging countries giving TNCs large profit, 2013 estimated TNCs had 80% global
trade
-1995 WTO introduced IPRs, these patents favour TNCs as have money to invest in
new technologies then charge high royalty fees e.g. pharmaceutical companies/GM
crops, USA has highest no. patents a year + highest value TNC (Walmart)
-large global influence e.g. westernisation, media influence such as apple music or
amazon prime video, large audience, TNCs can then exert power + gain profits e.g.
by spreading idea of consumerism/capitalism, USA has worlds top 10 global brands,
desire to access these brands therefore drives westernisation/profit
Explain why defence spending is seen as crucial to superpower status (4) 2 points -
ANSWER--defence spending mainly includes investments in military weapons and
military personnel, such as military bases around the world and powerful weapons
such as nuclear, with the majority of powerful nations spending huge amounts such
as the USA who's budget is over $600 billion
-main reason as to why this is deemed as so crucial is to act as part of a nations
hard power, acting as a deterrent to other countries and so protect their territory,
which in turn can enable a country to gain control of things such as natural resources
and trade routes, bringing wealth and so increasing overall power.
Explain what is meant by contested spheres of influence (4) 2 points - ANSWER--
describes how the geopolitical activities of different countries and superpowers focus
on the same territory or issue. This can then lead to large disagreements such as
economically with rights to national resources, as in the Arctic, politically through
QUESTIONS VERIFIED ANSWERS
Assess the extent to which geopolitical power stems from a range of countries
human and physical characteristics (12) Intro + 4 points - ANSWER-Intro-
Geopolitical power describes the amount of power a country has in terms of their
physical geography and how this then links to their political power on the global
stage. This can be seen to link to both human and physical characteristics of a
region.
- it could still be argued that physical characteristics remain key. By having both a
physical large landmass a country therefore has a larger territory, often controlling
more physical resources as well as influence over neighbours therefore further
exerting control and gaining allies/protection over borders, example Russia, largest
landmass, Geo-strategic power, owns own natural resources as well as bordering
areas such as Arctic again meaning has large influence resources found within there
too, acts as key tool of economic growth as well as for influencing other nations that
rely upon these resources enabling Russia exert large amount hard power and so
deterrent, showing the importance physical land/resources could be said to have,
However Russia cannot be said to be a major power within the global system,
therefore indicating how other factors also play role, with this then also being similar
to other natural resource rich nations such as within the middle east that due to
human factors such as the fact much of the region is in conlfict/poor political regime
power is not held, is then also no longer as important for countries harness own
natural resources with many countries accessing them elsewhere (china + Africa) as
well as fact the majority are owned by overseas TNCs, therefore further indicating
other human factors play role
-This is therefore largely linked to a countries economic growth/influence, enabling
countries such as China to access resources from others through investment,
economic power then further enables countries to exert power number other w
Assess to what extent the superpowers rising demand for physical resources has led
to both environmental and political challenges (12) 4 points - ANSWER-Intro- with an
increasing amount of countries gaining economic growth and so becoming
increasingly powerful, this has included increasing populations with an increasing
demand for physical resources including things such as mineral resources for energy
production and manufacturing, as well as agricultural needs. This therefore can be
seen to be leading to a number of challenges, both environmental and politically
-The main political challenges can be seen to be in the demand for resources and
territories to gain minerals and so meet energy demand. Many countries, such as
China, rely heavily on energy resources to fuel their manufacturing industry and so
ensure economic growth. This has led to a variety of political challenges around
gaining resources such as oil and gas, an example being in the South China Sea,
where china is trying to expand its territory (EEZ) in order to gain natural resources
in that area. This is then further seen in the Artic, an area with huge reserves of
natural resources and with no one dominant state having control over it. Countries
such as China, Russia and Canada have now place military bases surrounding it in
order to gain this territory, which although has not yet lead to military action, this may
well occur in the future.
, -Further political tensions can be seen with other resources such as gas and oil, as
the majority of countries not being self-sufficient in energy so having to rely on others
for this imported oil. An example can be seen in the reliance of resources from
countries such as Russia, with the disruption in things such as energy pathways as
seen in ukraine where tensions are arising out of the gas pipeline, leading to
tensions with other countries such as the UK. Also seen in Syria and the gas
pipeline, with both the US and Russia attempting to gain control of the area, le
Explain how the worlds systems theory can be used to explain changing patterns of
power (6) 2 points - ANSWER--world systems theory looks at the world as a global
system, made up of periphery countries that provide raw materials and cheap labour
to the core countries, that exploit periphery for profits, then also the semi periphery in
between
-these semi periphery show why emerging countries are becoming more powerful,
e.g China provides goods to boost economy but also exploits countries like Africa
Describe the key points of the role of TNCs as global players 4 points- How they
operate, Global trade, Technology, Cultural influence - ANSWER--Most are public
owned (Apple), operate in many countries with factories in LEDCs etc, dominant in
global economy however 75% worlds largest companies based in 10 countries, can
operate differently e.g. China were state owned by governments who control who's in
charge + employ large proportion of population, still operate commercially but all
profits go to state
-Operate global production chains, uses outsourcing + offshoring, containerisation
helped, increase in intra-trade between TNCs + within the TNCs (flows of parts of
goods between countries), led global shift with economic power now moving to
emerging countries giving TNCs large profit, 2013 estimated TNCs had 80% global
trade
-1995 WTO introduced IPRs, these patents favour TNCs as have money to invest in
new technologies then charge high royalty fees e.g. pharmaceutical companies/GM
crops, USA has highest no. patents a year + highest value TNC (Walmart)
-large global influence e.g. westernisation, media influence such as apple music or
amazon prime video, large audience, TNCs can then exert power + gain profits e.g.
by spreading idea of consumerism/capitalism, USA has worlds top 10 global brands,
desire to access these brands therefore drives westernisation/profit
Explain why defence spending is seen as crucial to superpower status (4) 2 points -
ANSWER--defence spending mainly includes investments in military weapons and
military personnel, such as military bases around the world and powerful weapons
such as nuclear, with the majority of powerful nations spending huge amounts such
as the USA who's budget is over $600 billion
-main reason as to why this is deemed as so crucial is to act as part of a nations
hard power, acting as a deterrent to other countries and so protect their territory,
which in turn can enable a country to gain control of things such as natural resources
and trade routes, bringing wealth and so increasing overall power.
Explain what is meant by contested spheres of influence (4) 2 points - ANSWER--
describes how the geopolitical activities of different countries and superpowers focus
on the same territory or issue. This can then lead to large disagreements such as
economically with rights to national resources, as in the Arctic, politically through
