Power and Developments
Subject Govt & Politics - Global Politics
Last edited time 28 February 2025 12:24
Balance of Power
phrase definition examples advantages disadvantages
can be highly
in the aftermath unstable as
a distribution of of the Cold emerging
power in which War, the US powers resent
one state the end of the provided a the hegemonic
exercises most Cold War and sense of world status of one
unipolarity
of the cultural, the rise of US peace as it states - can be
economic and hegemony advanced its seen in
military ideals of free- Germany’s
influence market liberal belligerence in
democracy the lead up to
WW1
a distribution of can be
power in which destabilising
more than 2 the Cold War - and dangerous.
nation-states the USA and almost led to
have nearly Soviet Union nuclear war
bipolarity
equal amounts vied for power during the
of military, from 1945 - Cuban Missile
cultural, and 1990 Crisis - no
economic effective
influence checks
multipolarity a distribution of the increase in liberals would commentators
power in which power of the argue that such such as
more than 2 BRIC(S) a situation Mearsheimer
nation-states countries has would lead to hold this to be
have nearly led to more global peace as the most
equal amounts influence the absence of unstable
of military, among different a global distribution of
cultural, and nation-states hegemon power as there
means states is a constantly
Power and Developments 1
, economic are more likely shifting balance
influence to cooperate in of power
organs of among evenly
global matched states
governance
suggests that
national nuclear
security is proliferation for realists such
enhanced and fear of as Waltz, this
when military MAD led to an promoted
balance of capability is uneasy balance peace as
power distributed so of power neither side
that no one between the was capable of
state is strong Soviet Union eliminating the
enough to and USA during other
dominate all the Cold War
others
-the balance of global power has changed historically.
-a state that wields significant global influence militarily and economically is
known as a great power. prior to WW1, there were several great powers,
including Great Britain, France, Austria-Hungary and Russia. during the interwar
period, the emergence of new powers, such as the Soviet Union, Italy and
Japan shifted the balance of power.
-after the Second World War power shifted again, with the victorious powers of
China, France, the US, UK and Soviet Union becoming dominant. the aftermath
of this war also saw the emergence of two clear superpowers, the Soviet Union
and the USA. these superpowers possessed distinct, but competing,
ideologies: communism and capitalism, and nuclear capability. smaller nation-
states aligned themselves with one of these superpowers during the Cold War.
-the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991 saw the emergence of the USA as the
worlds sole superpower. although no country comes close to the reach of the
US in terms of economic and military strength, a resurgent Russia and rapidly
developing China has challenged US hegemony.
great powers vs superpowers
a superpower;
power greater than a traditional power
‘great power plus great mobility of power’ - William Fox
Power and Developments 2
, global reach
strongest economies
superior military capacity (nuclear weaponry)
dominate international affairs
a great power;
state deemed to rank amongst the most powerful in a hierarchal state
system
capacity to maintain their own security (NATO countries have primacy over
their own military security)
economically powerful (strong economies)
mostly regional, sometimes global, interests
influence international affairs
E.G - China, France, Russia, UK
superpower or
statement example
great power
must have significant regional Germany have significant control
influence within their ‘near great power within the EU, as a result of its large
abroad’ population and significant exports
must have significant global
power and absolute global superpower
reach, particularly militarily
should have the capacity of
great power
significant military outreach
must have nuclear weapons superpower
should exert dominant
structural power within
superpower
important regional and
international institutions
should possess a significant,
but not necessarily dominant great power
role in IGOs
Power and Developments 3
, possess a world view that is
willing to enforce in superpower US - liberal democracy
international relations
will have some of the
strongest economies in the superpower
world
will possess great power plus
superpower
great mobility of power
HARD / SOFT / SMART POWER
hard power - the use of military and economic means to influence the
behaviour or interests of other political bodies. helps superpowers and
great powers create ‘client states’
-UK; defence of the Falkland Islands, Afghanistan War, invasion of Iraq
Cameron’s government- enshrined into UK law via a parliamentary bill that
0.7% of GNI (Gross National Income) should be spent on international aid
-As China’s economic power has grown (it is now the second richest state in
the world) it has been building up its military capability. In 2009, military spend
was about $70 billion; by 2016, it was $150 billion.
-Russia used its six-day invasion of Georgia in 2008 to retaliate against
Georgia’s suppression of Russian nationalist separatists in South Ossetia
-The Iraq War of 2003 was fought to achieve a number of foreign-policy
objectives for the USA, but principally its intention was to subdue America’s
enemies in the Middle East and in other parts of the world
-There were long-running sanctions against South Africa (1986–94) by the
USA, Japan and the European Economic Community (EEC) in an attempt to end
the racist apartheid regime. This prevented trade in certain commodities and
financial services
-Since 2014, the EU has imposed sanctions against Russia over its military
support for Russian
nationalist separatists in Ukraine. This includes the freezing of assets held in
the EU by individuals and entities associated with Putin and his government,
and a ban on certain exports to Russia.
-The USA and the EU were the first to insert clauses into their trade agreements
protecting human rights and workers’ conditions
Power and Developments 4
Subject Govt & Politics - Global Politics
Last edited time 28 February 2025 12:24
Balance of Power
phrase definition examples advantages disadvantages
can be highly
in the aftermath unstable as
a distribution of of the Cold emerging
power in which War, the US powers resent
one state the end of the provided a the hegemonic
exercises most Cold War and sense of world status of one
unipolarity
of the cultural, the rise of US peace as it states - can be
economic and hegemony advanced its seen in
military ideals of free- Germany’s
influence market liberal belligerence in
democracy the lead up to
WW1
a distribution of can be
power in which destabilising
more than 2 the Cold War - and dangerous.
nation-states the USA and almost led to
have nearly Soviet Union nuclear war
bipolarity
equal amounts vied for power during the
of military, from 1945 - Cuban Missile
cultural, and 1990 Crisis - no
economic effective
influence checks
multipolarity a distribution of the increase in liberals would commentators
power in which power of the argue that such such as
more than 2 BRIC(S) a situation Mearsheimer
nation-states countries has would lead to hold this to be
have nearly led to more global peace as the most
equal amounts influence the absence of unstable
of military, among different a global distribution of
cultural, and nation-states hegemon power as there
means states is a constantly
Power and Developments 1
, economic are more likely shifting balance
influence to cooperate in of power
organs of among evenly
global matched states
governance
suggests that
national nuclear
security is proliferation for realists such
enhanced and fear of as Waltz, this
when military MAD led to an promoted
balance of capability is uneasy balance peace as
power distributed so of power neither side
that no one between the was capable of
state is strong Soviet Union eliminating the
enough to and USA during other
dominate all the Cold War
others
-the balance of global power has changed historically.
-a state that wields significant global influence militarily and economically is
known as a great power. prior to WW1, there were several great powers,
including Great Britain, France, Austria-Hungary and Russia. during the interwar
period, the emergence of new powers, such as the Soviet Union, Italy and
Japan shifted the balance of power.
-after the Second World War power shifted again, with the victorious powers of
China, France, the US, UK and Soviet Union becoming dominant. the aftermath
of this war also saw the emergence of two clear superpowers, the Soviet Union
and the USA. these superpowers possessed distinct, but competing,
ideologies: communism and capitalism, and nuclear capability. smaller nation-
states aligned themselves with one of these superpowers during the Cold War.
-the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991 saw the emergence of the USA as the
worlds sole superpower. although no country comes close to the reach of the
US in terms of economic and military strength, a resurgent Russia and rapidly
developing China has challenged US hegemony.
great powers vs superpowers
a superpower;
power greater than a traditional power
‘great power plus great mobility of power’ - William Fox
Power and Developments 2
, global reach
strongest economies
superior military capacity (nuclear weaponry)
dominate international affairs
a great power;
state deemed to rank amongst the most powerful in a hierarchal state
system
capacity to maintain their own security (NATO countries have primacy over
their own military security)
economically powerful (strong economies)
mostly regional, sometimes global, interests
influence international affairs
E.G - China, France, Russia, UK
superpower or
statement example
great power
must have significant regional Germany have significant control
influence within their ‘near great power within the EU, as a result of its large
abroad’ population and significant exports
must have significant global
power and absolute global superpower
reach, particularly militarily
should have the capacity of
great power
significant military outreach
must have nuclear weapons superpower
should exert dominant
structural power within
superpower
important regional and
international institutions
should possess a significant,
but not necessarily dominant great power
role in IGOs
Power and Developments 3
, possess a world view that is
willing to enforce in superpower US - liberal democracy
international relations
will have some of the
strongest economies in the superpower
world
will possess great power plus
superpower
great mobility of power
HARD / SOFT / SMART POWER
hard power - the use of military and economic means to influence the
behaviour or interests of other political bodies. helps superpowers and
great powers create ‘client states’
-UK; defence of the Falkland Islands, Afghanistan War, invasion of Iraq
Cameron’s government- enshrined into UK law via a parliamentary bill that
0.7% of GNI (Gross National Income) should be spent on international aid
-As China’s economic power has grown (it is now the second richest state in
the world) it has been building up its military capability. In 2009, military spend
was about $70 billion; by 2016, it was $150 billion.
-Russia used its six-day invasion of Georgia in 2008 to retaliate against
Georgia’s suppression of Russian nationalist separatists in South Ossetia
-The Iraq War of 2003 was fought to achieve a number of foreign-policy
objectives for the USA, but principally its intention was to subdue America’s
enemies in the Middle East and in other parts of the world
-There were long-running sanctions against South Africa (1986–94) by the
USA, Japan and the European Economic Community (EEC) in an attempt to end
the racist apartheid regime. This prevented trade in certain commodities and
financial services
-Since 2014, the EU has imposed sanctions against Russia over its military
support for Russian
nationalist separatists in Ukraine. This includes the freezing of assets held in
the EU by individuals and entities associated with Putin and his government,
and a ban on certain exports to Russia.
-The USA and the EU were the first to insert clauses into their trade agreements
protecting human rights and workers’ conditions
Power and Developments 4
