Superpowers
Enquiry Question 1: What are superpowers and how have they
changed over time?
,7.1 Geopolitical power stems from a range of human and physical of characteristics of
superpowers
A superpower is a country that has economic, cultural, military and geographical influence
across the world. They are able to influence policy on a worldwide scale, and often in
different regions at the same time. The term superpower dates from the late 1940's, when
there were three dominant world powers at the time: the USA, the USSR and the British
Empire. Currently, there is only one superpower, the USA. However, there are emerging
powers and regional powers.
What are the features of superpower status?
Economic power - GDP, economic growth rate, investment in education and Research
and Development, invest more in the military, global reach - bases across the world,
have more voting rights in WB and IMF, TNC's to spread culture, influences lots of
other factors
Military power - nuclear weapons, size of army, number of aircraft/ships, global
reach, bases across the world
Political power - WB, IMF - more contribution = more voting rights, UN - Permanent 5
(P5) of security council, can veto decisions
Cultural influence - brands, TNC's, TV, film, music, Americanisation
Resources - oil and gas, eg: Russia, other countries rely on Russia
High population - large workforce, more consumers, larger military
Emerging powers have growing influence, eg: China. China has a growing economy and
military power but less cultural influence than the USA. The EU has considerable power, but
EU decisions and policies are often compromised because they must be the collective view
of 28 member states. Other emerging powers include Russia within its large gas and oil
reserves, India, Brazil and the oil rich Persian Gulf States. They have powerful cards such as
energy resources, but not a full deck for global influence.
, Regional powers play an important economic and political role on their continent: eg: South
Africa and Japan.
Superpower Index
Doesn’t include all criteria, eg: cultural influence, membership of global groups WB
Doesn’t include size of army, global reach
Most important factor should have a higher weighting, eg: GDP has same weight as
number of patents
China comes out as number one, but we know the USA is the only superpower
Mechanisms of Maintaining Power
Countries also have a number of tools at their disposal in terms of extending their global
influence and maintaining their power. These mechanisms of maintaining power are hard
power and soft power and they vary in their effectiveness.
Enquiry Question 1: What are superpowers and how have they
changed over time?
,7.1 Geopolitical power stems from a range of human and physical of characteristics of
superpowers
A superpower is a country that has economic, cultural, military and geographical influence
across the world. They are able to influence policy on a worldwide scale, and often in
different regions at the same time. The term superpower dates from the late 1940's, when
there were three dominant world powers at the time: the USA, the USSR and the British
Empire. Currently, there is only one superpower, the USA. However, there are emerging
powers and regional powers.
What are the features of superpower status?
Economic power - GDP, economic growth rate, investment in education and Research
and Development, invest more in the military, global reach - bases across the world,
have more voting rights in WB and IMF, TNC's to spread culture, influences lots of
other factors
Military power - nuclear weapons, size of army, number of aircraft/ships, global
reach, bases across the world
Political power - WB, IMF - more contribution = more voting rights, UN - Permanent 5
(P5) of security council, can veto decisions
Cultural influence - brands, TNC's, TV, film, music, Americanisation
Resources - oil and gas, eg: Russia, other countries rely on Russia
High population - large workforce, more consumers, larger military
Emerging powers have growing influence, eg: China. China has a growing economy and
military power but less cultural influence than the USA. The EU has considerable power, but
EU decisions and policies are often compromised because they must be the collective view
of 28 member states. Other emerging powers include Russia within its large gas and oil
reserves, India, Brazil and the oil rich Persian Gulf States. They have powerful cards such as
energy resources, but not a full deck for global influence.
, Regional powers play an important economic and political role on their continent: eg: South
Africa and Japan.
Superpower Index
Doesn’t include all criteria, eg: cultural influence, membership of global groups WB
Doesn’t include size of army, global reach
Most important factor should have a higher weighting, eg: GDP has same weight as
number of patents
China comes out as number one, but we know the USA is the only superpower
Mechanisms of Maintaining Power
Countries also have a number of tools at their disposal in terms of extending their global
influence and maintaining their power. These mechanisms of maintaining power are hard
power and soft power and they vary in their effectiveness.
