Superpowers
EQ1: Geopolitical power stems from a range of human and physical
characteristics of superpowers.
7.1 The power of Superpowers
Superpower – a nation with the ability to project its influence anywhere in
the world and be a dominant global force.
Hyperpower – un unchallenged lone superpower that is dominant in all
aspects of power.
Emerging superpower – these are nations whose economic, military and
political power is already large but continues to grow e.g. BRICS (Brazil,
Russia, India and China).
Regional power – these powers are smaller and can influence other
countries at a continental scale.
There are four pillars of power:
Military power
Political power
Cultural power
Resources.
All of these are underpinned by economic power:
Economy is the prerequisite of power.
A large and powerful economy gives nations wealth to build and
maintain a powerful military.
Political power:
The ability to influence others through diplomacy to ‘get your own
way’ is important.
Exercised through international organisations such as the UN and
World Trade Organization.
Military power is used in two ways:
1. Threat of military action as a bargaining chip.
2. Military force can be used to achieve geopolitical goals.
Blue water navy – ore which can deploy into the ocean. Smaller nations
only have a green water navy designed to patrol littoral waters.
Cultural power:
This includes how appealing a nation’s way of life, values and
ideology are to others.
This is often exercised through media, TNCs or migrants introducing
cultural procedures or through the imposition of viewpoints in
international agreements.
Ideology – asset of beliefs, values and opinions held by the majority of
people in a society. These determine what is considered normal
behaviours.
,Resources:
Can be in the form of physical resources or human.
Human includes the level of education and skills in a nation.
Physical resources can be exported at a high price leading to
economic power.
The Superpower Index uses quantitative data based on superpower
characteristics to compare and contrast a countries status. Each member
is ranked to reflect their greater importance as a measure of power.
The European Union is considered a superpower but as the 28 states do
not always work coherently the blocs economic size is not reflected in
global influence.
How do superpowers exert their influence?:
Hard power using military and economic influence to force a country
to act in a particular way.
Soft power more subtle persuasion of countries to act in a particular
way, on the basis that the persuader is respected.
Hard power e.g. military force soft
power e.g. cultural attractiveness
Hard Power Soft Power
Strengths Weaknesses Strengths Weaknesses
Show of Causes Sense of Hard for
strength. suffering. morality governme
Fast Causes Makes nts to
acting. resentment them control.
Increases leading to more Soft power
influence extremism. attractive. may not
overall. Encourage influence
s others. others.
Mackinder’s Heartland Theory – 1904:
Classified a region of Europe as ‘The Heartland’ stretching from
Russia to China.
The idea that power came from controlling vast land areas was
important.
Mackinder produced an influential geo-strategic location theory.
Mackinder described areas surrounded by mountain or desert with
major rivers good areas.
How has this been influential?:
After WWI to limit Germany’s expansion with the Treaty of Versailles.
Post WWII NATO allies attempted to contain the Soviet Union.
, Reinforced the idea that control of physical resources was important.
How has this changed over time?
Modern military techniques and technology can hit deep inside
another country’s territory – size is no longer a protectant.
Physical resources are trade internationally.
War and conflict are seen as abnormal.
7.2 Changing Patterns and Polarity
Geopolitics can exhibit different type of polarity:
a unipolar world is dominated by one superpower.
a bipolar world is one where two superpowers with opposing ideologies
compete for power.
a multi – polar world is one where many superpowers compete for power
in different regions.
Colony – where one country occupies another country for its own use.
They were established to gain economic, geographical and political
power.
This causes violence, oppression and acculturalism.
The era of colonialism was 1870-1014.
Key products included tobacco and spices.
Colonial control – direct control exerted over territories conquered by
mainland European Powers. They were ruled by force with little power or
influence.
Successes of Colonial power Negatives of colonial power.
Railway lines built used to Farmers and producers left
transport goods quickly. with little profit and wages.
English language spread Discriminating policies
allowed commonwealth segregated British migrants
countries to participate in from natives.
business.
Education was improved.
The importance of the Navy and Military:
the British empire was founded on exploration and sea power.
Rules a quarter of the worlds land and a third of the world’s
population.
Based largely on hard power.
Navy dominated the seas 1700-1930s.
Provided a link between the home country and overseas colonies.
Modernism:
The world can be improved by human intervention and
achievement.
EQ1: Geopolitical power stems from a range of human and physical
characteristics of superpowers.
7.1 The power of Superpowers
Superpower – a nation with the ability to project its influence anywhere in
the world and be a dominant global force.
Hyperpower – un unchallenged lone superpower that is dominant in all
aspects of power.
Emerging superpower – these are nations whose economic, military and
political power is already large but continues to grow e.g. BRICS (Brazil,
Russia, India and China).
Regional power – these powers are smaller and can influence other
countries at a continental scale.
There are four pillars of power:
Military power
Political power
Cultural power
Resources.
All of these are underpinned by economic power:
Economy is the prerequisite of power.
A large and powerful economy gives nations wealth to build and
maintain a powerful military.
Political power:
The ability to influence others through diplomacy to ‘get your own
way’ is important.
Exercised through international organisations such as the UN and
World Trade Organization.
Military power is used in two ways:
1. Threat of military action as a bargaining chip.
2. Military force can be used to achieve geopolitical goals.
Blue water navy – ore which can deploy into the ocean. Smaller nations
only have a green water navy designed to patrol littoral waters.
Cultural power:
This includes how appealing a nation’s way of life, values and
ideology are to others.
This is often exercised through media, TNCs or migrants introducing
cultural procedures or through the imposition of viewpoints in
international agreements.
Ideology – asset of beliefs, values and opinions held by the majority of
people in a society. These determine what is considered normal
behaviours.
,Resources:
Can be in the form of physical resources or human.
Human includes the level of education and skills in a nation.
Physical resources can be exported at a high price leading to
economic power.
The Superpower Index uses quantitative data based on superpower
characteristics to compare and contrast a countries status. Each member
is ranked to reflect their greater importance as a measure of power.
The European Union is considered a superpower but as the 28 states do
not always work coherently the blocs economic size is not reflected in
global influence.
How do superpowers exert their influence?:
Hard power using military and economic influence to force a country
to act in a particular way.
Soft power more subtle persuasion of countries to act in a particular
way, on the basis that the persuader is respected.
Hard power e.g. military force soft
power e.g. cultural attractiveness
Hard Power Soft Power
Strengths Weaknesses Strengths Weaknesses
Show of Causes Sense of Hard for
strength. suffering. morality governme
Fast Causes Makes nts to
acting. resentment them control.
Increases leading to more Soft power
influence extremism. attractive. may not
overall. Encourage influence
s others. others.
Mackinder’s Heartland Theory – 1904:
Classified a region of Europe as ‘The Heartland’ stretching from
Russia to China.
The idea that power came from controlling vast land areas was
important.
Mackinder produced an influential geo-strategic location theory.
Mackinder described areas surrounded by mountain or desert with
major rivers good areas.
How has this been influential?:
After WWI to limit Germany’s expansion with the Treaty of Versailles.
Post WWII NATO allies attempted to contain the Soviet Union.
, Reinforced the idea that control of physical resources was important.
How has this changed over time?
Modern military techniques and technology can hit deep inside
another country’s territory – size is no longer a protectant.
Physical resources are trade internationally.
War and conflict are seen as abnormal.
7.2 Changing Patterns and Polarity
Geopolitics can exhibit different type of polarity:
a unipolar world is dominated by one superpower.
a bipolar world is one where two superpowers with opposing ideologies
compete for power.
a multi – polar world is one where many superpowers compete for power
in different regions.
Colony – where one country occupies another country for its own use.
They were established to gain economic, geographical and political
power.
This causes violence, oppression and acculturalism.
The era of colonialism was 1870-1014.
Key products included tobacco and spices.
Colonial control – direct control exerted over territories conquered by
mainland European Powers. They were ruled by force with little power or
influence.
Successes of Colonial power Negatives of colonial power.
Railway lines built used to Farmers and producers left
transport goods quickly. with little profit and wages.
English language spread Discriminating policies
allowed commonwealth segregated British migrants
countries to participate in from natives.
business.
Education was improved.
The importance of the Navy and Military:
the British empire was founded on exploration and sea power.
Rules a quarter of the worlds land and a third of the world’s
population.
Based largely on hard power.
Navy dominated the seas 1700-1930s.
Provided a link between the home country and overseas colonies.
Modernism:
The world can be improved by human intervention and
achievement.
