SUPERPOWERS EQ1 12 MARKERS
EXAM QUESTIONS WITH VERIFIED
ANSWERS
Assess the extent to which emerging countries need both 'hard' and 'soft' power to
extend their global influence - ANSWER-Emerging countries need 'hard' power to
strengthen economic power through the defence of imports/ exports and secure
access to resources. For example, China is building military bases on artificial
islands in the South China Sea.
Emerging countries need 'soft' power to strengthen cultural power via media and
TNCs. For example, Bollywood in India produces 1000 films per annum.
Emerging countries need 'soft' power to strengthen economic and political power via
intergovernmental organisations (IGOs). For example, China established the Asian
Infrastructure Investment Bank with 87 member-states.
Assess how the relative importance of human and physical characteristics for
maintaining power has changed over time - ANSWER-The human characteristic of
political power has become more important over time as international political and
military IGOs have emerged. For example, five countries have permanent seats on
the UN Security Council.
The physical characteristic of geo-strategic location has become more important
over time in era of globalisation. For example, Djibouti (in the Gulf of Aden) hosts US
and Chinese military bases.
The human characteristic of economic power has become more important over time
as economic IGOs have emerged. For example, the US has the largest economy in
the world.
Assess the extent to which emerging superpowers threaten the economic and
political dominance of the US - ANSWER-China threatens the economic dominance
of the US as China has industrialised. For example, China established the Asian
Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) with 87 member-states.
Russia threatens the political dominance of the US through military deployments
abroad. For example, Russia has been supporting the Syrian government in the
Syrian Civil War.
India threatens the economic dominance of the US as India industrialises. For
example, American Express, a US company, has been conducting offshoring in
India.
Assess how patterns of power change bring varying degrees of geo-political stability
and risk - ANSWER-Unipolarity brings geo-political stability and limits geo-political
, risk through the prevention of conflicts. For example, the US intervened in the
Kosovo war to prevent humanitarian crisis.
Bipolarity brings geo-political stability and limits geo-political risk through a balance
of power. For example, during the Cold War, the US and Soviet Union had near-
equal numbers of nuclear warheads.
Multipolarity limits geo-political stability and brings geo-political risk through the
creation of military alliances. For example, World War One and Two were periods of
multipolarity between European powers.
Assess the relative importance of economic, cultural and military factors in
influencing superpower status - ANSWER-Economic factors are important in
influencing superpower status in relation to economic IGOs. For example, the US
possesses 17% of all shares within the IMF.
Cultural factors are important in influencing superpower status in relation to the
media. For example, 210 million people listen to the BBC World Service weekly.
Military factors are important in influencing superpower status in relation military
capability. For example, the China's military expenditure rises by 7% annually.
Assess the extent to which the superpower status of the US is threatened by the
emerging power of the BRIC nations - ANSWER-China threatens the economic
dominance of the US as China has industrialised. For example, China established
the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) with 87 member-states.
Russia threatens the political dominance of the US through military deployments
abroad. For example, Russia has been supporting the Syrian government in the
Syrian Civil War.
India threatens the economic dominance of the US as India industrialises. For
example, American Express, a US company, has been conducting offshoring in
India.
Assess the extent to which China is a threat to the US' status as the only current
superpower - ANSWER-China threatens the US' status as the only current
superpower in relation to its expanding military capability. For example, China's
military expenditure rises by 7% annually.
China threatens the US' status in relation to its involvement in political IGOs. For
example, China funds 10% of the UN peacekeeping budget - and possesses a
permanent seat on the UN Security Council.
China threatens the US' status in relation to economic power as China has
industrialised. For example, China established the Asian Infrastructure Investment
Bank (AIIB) with 87 member-states.
Assess how theories, such as the Dependency Theory and World Systems Theory,
can contribute to an understanding of changing patterns of global power - ANSWER-
EXAM QUESTIONS WITH VERIFIED
ANSWERS
Assess the extent to which emerging countries need both 'hard' and 'soft' power to
extend their global influence - ANSWER-Emerging countries need 'hard' power to
strengthen economic power through the defence of imports/ exports and secure
access to resources. For example, China is building military bases on artificial
islands in the South China Sea.
Emerging countries need 'soft' power to strengthen cultural power via media and
TNCs. For example, Bollywood in India produces 1000 films per annum.
Emerging countries need 'soft' power to strengthen economic and political power via
intergovernmental organisations (IGOs). For example, China established the Asian
Infrastructure Investment Bank with 87 member-states.
Assess how the relative importance of human and physical characteristics for
maintaining power has changed over time - ANSWER-The human characteristic of
political power has become more important over time as international political and
military IGOs have emerged. For example, five countries have permanent seats on
the UN Security Council.
The physical characteristic of geo-strategic location has become more important
over time in era of globalisation. For example, Djibouti (in the Gulf of Aden) hosts US
and Chinese military bases.
The human characteristic of economic power has become more important over time
as economic IGOs have emerged. For example, the US has the largest economy in
the world.
Assess the extent to which emerging superpowers threaten the economic and
political dominance of the US - ANSWER-China threatens the economic dominance
of the US as China has industrialised. For example, China established the Asian
Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) with 87 member-states.
Russia threatens the political dominance of the US through military deployments
abroad. For example, Russia has been supporting the Syrian government in the
Syrian Civil War.
India threatens the economic dominance of the US as India industrialises. For
example, American Express, a US company, has been conducting offshoring in
India.
Assess how patterns of power change bring varying degrees of geo-political stability
and risk - ANSWER-Unipolarity brings geo-political stability and limits geo-political
, risk through the prevention of conflicts. For example, the US intervened in the
Kosovo war to prevent humanitarian crisis.
Bipolarity brings geo-political stability and limits geo-political risk through a balance
of power. For example, during the Cold War, the US and Soviet Union had near-
equal numbers of nuclear warheads.
Multipolarity limits geo-political stability and brings geo-political risk through the
creation of military alliances. For example, World War One and Two were periods of
multipolarity between European powers.
Assess the relative importance of economic, cultural and military factors in
influencing superpower status - ANSWER-Economic factors are important in
influencing superpower status in relation to economic IGOs. For example, the US
possesses 17% of all shares within the IMF.
Cultural factors are important in influencing superpower status in relation to the
media. For example, 210 million people listen to the BBC World Service weekly.
Military factors are important in influencing superpower status in relation military
capability. For example, the China's military expenditure rises by 7% annually.
Assess the extent to which the superpower status of the US is threatened by the
emerging power of the BRIC nations - ANSWER-China threatens the economic
dominance of the US as China has industrialised. For example, China established
the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) with 87 member-states.
Russia threatens the political dominance of the US through military deployments
abroad. For example, Russia has been supporting the Syrian government in the
Syrian Civil War.
India threatens the economic dominance of the US as India industrialises. For
example, American Express, a US company, has been conducting offshoring in
India.
Assess the extent to which China is a threat to the US' status as the only current
superpower - ANSWER-China threatens the US' status as the only current
superpower in relation to its expanding military capability. For example, China's
military expenditure rises by 7% annually.
China threatens the US' status in relation to its involvement in political IGOs. For
example, China funds 10% of the UN peacekeeping budget - and possesses a
permanent seat on the UN Security Council.
China threatens the US' status in relation to economic power as China has
industrialised. For example, China established the Asian Infrastructure Investment
Bank (AIIB) with 87 member-states.
Assess how theories, such as the Dependency Theory and World Systems Theory,
can contribute to an understanding of changing patterns of global power - ANSWER-
