A-LEVEL GEOGRAPHY
EDEXCEL
SUPERPOWERS
PRACTICE QUESTIONS + ANSWERS
7.1
Explain the importance of soft power to superpower status
● Involves cultural influence, economic power, large military presence etc. Can be used to spread
influence to many countries around the world without actually needing to physically do anything
● Relies on the source country being respected and attractive in its economic or cultural factors, i.e.
countries want to be trading with them
● Cheaper than hard power, and can be used to build alliances
Explain one way in which soft power can be used to maintain superpower status.
● Economic trade with countries allows the superpower to exert significant influence over another
country. They can impose tariffs to force change in that country, or they can give contracts or tax
breaks to encourage growth (carrot and stick)
Explain one way in which hard power can be used to maintain superpower status.
● Threats of force or military intervention will make countries comply with the superpower, both in
improving human rights or to deter potential conflict
Assess the view that soft power is the most important factor in maintaining superpower status.
1. Define hard and soft power
2. Soft - economic soft power can be used very effectively to maintain superpower status. Engaging in
free trade is a significant incentive for other countries, so power can be exerted with trade as a
‘reward’.
○ Economic sanctions are hard power, and these are often the most effective weapon of a
superpower. Limiting trade from a smaller country can cripple all its sectors, thereby making it a
significant disincentive and a large factor in superpower status.
3. Soft - cultural influence is important to present an image of a strong happy country; western TNCs and
media do this very well. Therefore other countries will be influenced by these ideals, and their cultures
will shift to represent this. (idea of a global culture)
○ Hard - real influence can more effectively be brought about by hard power, such as military
invasions. If a country is less developed, they are also less susceptible to economic pressure;
i.e. afghanistan had to have been handled with hard power
4. Conclude - soft power is important to be perceived as a desirable social and economic power; however
hard power in the form of military and economics is more important in exerting power
, 7.2
Explain the role of neocolonialism in maintaining power.
● Debt-aid relationship where superpowers give money to poor developing countries to keep a hold over
them. They use this as an opportunity to set up TNCs or exploit their resources when they can’t pay
back debts
● Cultural influence - language and traditions will become embedded in the post colonial country,
maintaining a cultural tie with the superpower. i.e. india having cricket as a sport comes from the british
empire
Assess the extent to which we are now living in a multipolar world.
1. The economic influence of multiple countries has become significant with the creation of and reliance
on trade blocs/ agreements. - The G7, the EU, ASEAN, NAFTA - all these countries hold significant
economic power
a. These countries are not powers themselves, only when they are together can they exert any
economic influence. Rather, there are only two economic superpowers; USA and China
2. Political power is wielded by many countries, as can be seen
7.3
Explain the importance of emerging powers in global economy
● Emerging powers contribute resources such as workers and raw materials to global production -
Chinese productive importance in the 90s-
● As education improves, they can migrate to other countries to work in high skilled jobs such as
medicine or engineering - Asian students in british universities
Assess the extent to which economic success can contribute to an emerging power's success.
● Economic success is important for countries to progress up the development ladder on Rostow's
model. They develop into service sector economies, less reliant on imports and they become globally
important and self sufficient, leading to them becoming more of a power on the global economic stage
○ However, there are many other factors that must be considered; political stability, global
perception, poverty, military, education etc.
● Without economic growth, a country cannot progress its other aspects such as military or cultural
power, meaning economic success is vital to a country’s emergence as a power
Assess the view that World Systems Theory is the most relevant to understanding changing patterns of power.
EDEXCEL
SUPERPOWERS
PRACTICE QUESTIONS + ANSWERS
7.1
Explain the importance of soft power to superpower status
● Involves cultural influence, economic power, large military presence etc. Can be used to spread
influence to many countries around the world without actually needing to physically do anything
● Relies on the source country being respected and attractive in its economic or cultural factors, i.e.
countries want to be trading with them
● Cheaper than hard power, and can be used to build alliances
Explain one way in which soft power can be used to maintain superpower status.
● Economic trade with countries allows the superpower to exert significant influence over another
country. They can impose tariffs to force change in that country, or they can give contracts or tax
breaks to encourage growth (carrot and stick)
Explain one way in which hard power can be used to maintain superpower status.
● Threats of force or military intervention will make countries comply with the superpower, both in
improving human rights or to deter potential conflict
Assess the view that soft power is the most important factor in maintaining superpower status.
1. Define hard and soft power
2. Soft - economic soft power can be used very effectively to maintain superpower status. Engaging in
free trade is a significant incentive for other countries, so power can be exerted with trade as a
‘reward’.
○ Economic sanctions are hard power, and these are often the most effective weapon of a
superpower. Limiting trade from a smaller country can cripple all its sectors, thereby making it a
significant disincentive and a large factor in superpower status.
3. Soft - cultural influence is important to present an image of a strong happy country; western TNCs and
media do this very well. Therefore other countries will be influenced by these ideals, and their cultures
will shift to represent this. (idea of a global culture)
○ Hard - real influence can more effectively be brought about by hard power, such as military
invasions. If a country is less developed, they are also less susceptible to economic pressure;
i.e. afghanistan had to have been handled with hard power
4. Conclude - soft power is important to be perceived as a desirable social and economic power; however
hard power in the form of military and economics is more important in exerting power
, 7.2
Explain the role of neocolonialism in maintaining power.
● Debt-aid relationship where superpowers give money to poor developing countries to keep a hold over
them. They use this as an opportunity to set up TNCs or exploit their resources when they can’t pay
back debts
● Cultural influence - language and traditions will become embedded in the post colonial country,
maintaining a cultural tie with the superpower. i.e. india having cricket as a sport comes from the british
empire
Assess the extent to which we are now living in a multipolar world.
1. The economic influence of multiple countries has become significant with the creation of and reliance
on trade blocs/ agreements. - The G7, the EU, ASEAN, NAFTA - all these countries hold significant
economic power
a. These countries are not powers themselves, only when they are together can they exert any
economic influence. Rather, there are only two economic superpowers; USA and China
2. Political power is wielded by many countries, as can be seen
7.3
Explain the importance of emerging powers in global economy
● Emerging powers contribute resources such as workers and raw materials to global production -
Chinese productive importance in the 90s-
● As education improves, they can migrate to other countries to work in high skilled jobs such as
medicine or engineering - Asian students in british universities
Assess the extent to which economic success can contribute to an emerging power's success.
● Economic success is important for countries to progress up the development ladder on Rostow's
model. They develop into service sector economies, less reliant on imports and they become globally
important and self sufficient, leading to them becoming more of a power on the global economic stage
○ However, there are many other factors that must be considered; political stability, global
perception, poverty, military, education etc.
● Without economic growth, a country cannot progress its other aspects such as military or cultural
power, meaning economic success is vital to a country’s emergence as a power
Assess the view that World Systems Theory is the most relevant to understanding changing patterns of power.
